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A Word From Our Associate . . .
Discovering a New Year's Resolution
Last fall, I was thinking about what I might try to commit myself to working on in the year 2000. In a homily in November, I had encouraged others to consider extra prayer, such as signing up for one hour a month before the Blessed Sacrament, for adoration and intercession. But for myself, I felt like prayer was something I already do, and quite easily, I love it. Then I thought about practicing confession once a week, rather than my usual once every three weeks or so. This is something I've felt growing in my heart, maybe because my longing for purity and to be closer to God is increasing. Boy that would be nice, if it's true. Then one day in Advent I was hit over the head with another resolution beckoning my attention.
It was the fourth Sunday of Advent and the first snowfall of the year. I had the 9:30am Mass and showed up at about 9:28am. The Boss (i.e. rich in mercy, kindness and compassion, Fr. Bill) was quite perturbed, haven partially vested, in my absence, thinking he might have to fill in for me. That happened to be the second liturgical event this fall, in which he was almost called upon as a sub. The Liturgist (i.e., humble, patient, and forbearing Jay Hunstiger) was slightly annoyed, having to help me vest, while simultaneously gathering the troops, and handing out assignments for the procession. The Deacon (i.e. long-suffering, tolerant and ever-charitable, Joe Kenney) was not amused with the last minute hurried preparations. As I entered the sacristy I said to one of the readers, with a chuckle, "It's bad weather out there." To which I received a reply, with a smile, "It's bad weather for all of us Michael." I was caught. One person reminded me recently, that showing up late can be selfish, and that is true.
Confronted by the situation, I recognized that I needed to add to my list another New Year's resolution: try to arrive early for major parish events. Now everybody had something to work on, and concerning time, everybody usually falls into some pattern, as one man told me, "Either you're anal and you're always early, or you're obsessive and you're just on time, or you're compulsive and you're always late!" - ha! I don't know if those words are right; maybe you're either a perfectionist, excessively deontological, or a procrastinator. Whatever the case, we're all something. But then comes into my conscience this haunting word, "Responsibility." After correcting me the Pastor, offering humble consolation, admitted that he was once twenty minutes late for a Mass. Then after a long pause, he said with a certain force, "When I was a young priest," and laughed. I'm sure he wouldn't mind me telling you that. So I'm gonna try to work on this area. It won't be easy though; I must solicit your prayers. Growing up, I used to always be two to five minutes late for everything, until about five years ago, when I worked so hard at arriving two minutes early. Boy oh boy, now I gotta go for fifteen minutes early. This is gonna be a hard one. Well, one piece of consolation I guess. There was a whole crowd of folks
falling in behind me that Sunday, so it seems I'm not alone in this endeavor.
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