
Taken from "Suggested Readings" a publication by
seminarians and students of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of
Theology, now available in an online
edition.
The Friday before we left for Christmas break I received three
Christmas cards in the mail. In the weeks after Thanksgiving, I
received many cards, most from strangers and school children in my
diocese with holiday greetings. Offering encouragement, praise and
thanks, each is a testament to the love of our one, holy, and
Catholic apostolic church. But on that day, there were only three.
As I opened each card, I saw the unfolding mystery that is the
connectedness of Christ in the lives of the faithful, and the
beautiful power of the Presence of God in my own life. The first
card I opened was hand-made and crayon-colored. It was
onedimensional, a green circle with four straight lines proceeding
from it. One of the lines had a yellow ball on the end. The lines
were cream colored, except for one that was maroon. Being clueless,
I showed it to several guys in the hall before it was identified as
an advent wreath. Silly me, of course it is an advent wreath.
Opening it I saw proclaimed in large one-inch tall block letters,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS JOHN!" the obvious work of a first-grader. There
was no indication of who sent this miniature masterpiece. Wow! How
humbling is that?
The second card I opened had the image of a beautiful
stained-glass window. Joseph and Mary gaze lovingly down at the
Christ child sitting on Mary's lap. Beautiful pastel shades of
translucent glass, the sunlight streaming through, reflecting the
love of family. A glance at the back showed the window was in the
Old Cathedral, the oldest church of my diocese. Inside lay the
Christmas wishes of my great Bishop. Wow! How humbling is
that?
I opened the third card and saw a magnificent angel, soaring below
the Star of David and above Bethlehem, blowing a trumpet. Beneath
her was Isaiah 9:6, "For a child is born unto us…these will be his
royal titles, wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace". Inside the card lay the simple message, "I hope
you are doing well, I wish you a blessed and joy-filled Christmas,
I would love to hear from you again, warmest regards, David". Wow!
How humbling is that?
I have never met David face-to-face. We have been pen pals shorter
than a year, at the request of Sister Rita Claire of the Daughters
of Providence. David is my age and had he graduated from High
School, he would have been in my class. He is a convert with a
great zeal for Christ. His personal lay ministry involves
counseling young men to their new situation, acknowledging personal
culpability, accepting their path, and allowing Christ's healing
presence into their heart. This is no small job for the faint of
heart. Wow! How humbling is that?
All the cards reminded me of Christ's love for me, but the last
card was the most humbling. Soon thereafter, I prayed with Christ
exposed in the Blessed Sacrament and wrote a long letter to David
explaining some of the changes in my life since we shared letters
last summer. Shortly thereafter, I received a second card bearing a
beautiful picture of Christ the High Priest. The sentiments were
again simple, thankfulness for sharing, gratefulness for direction
from the Almighty, laughter at our common method for nighttime
noise reduction, and acknowledgement of our roles in our respective
institutions.
With three glorious cards you may ask why David's was the most
humbling. Well, David sits on death row along with 3000 plus
Americans. In 2012 forty-three men were executed. Their ages ranged
from 34 to 63 years old. Two of the forty-three volunteered to die,
while forty-one desired life, even life behind bars. Since 1976
America has executed 1200 men and women. Catholic Social Teaching
teaches us that life and the dignity of the individual is sacred
from conception to natural death. Blessed John Paul II repeatedly
asked all the governments of the world for a moratorium on the
death penalty. Last September as we approached the Year of Faith
the USCCB issued a beautiful prayer calling for an end to the death
penalty:
"Merciful Father, we ask your blessing on all we do to build a
culture of life. Hear our prayers for those impacted by the death
penalty. We pray for all people, that their lives and dignity as
children of a loving God may be respected and protected in all
stages and circumstances. We pray for victims of violence and their
families, that they may experience our love and support and find
comfort in your compassion and in the promise of eternal life. We
pray for those on death row, that their lives may be spared, that
the innocent may be freed and that the guilty may come to
acknowledge their faults and seek reconciliation with you. We pray
for the families of those who are facing execution, that they may
be comforted by your love and compassion. We pray for civic
leaders, that they may commit themselves to respecting every human
life and ending the use of the death penalty in our land.
Compassionate Father, give us wisdom and hearts filled with your
love. Guide us as we work to end the use of the death penalty and
to build a society that truly chooses life in all situations. We
ask this Father through your Son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns
with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Amen"