This Holy Thursday we are called to pray for Priests...what is it like to give Jesus in the Eucharist, the pardon for sins, in the meaning of His Words and in blessings? It means like Saint Joseph, to the Custodian, Guardian, the Shepherd of the Good Shepherd's Life, in your hands literally...Full Custody of the Christ Child...Joint Custody with Mary and with the Church. Here is a true story that says it all. A Foster Family took in a child from an abusive family with many problems. The foster home discovered multiple signs of abuse on the child on all levels, every nightmare you can imagine...yet the child survived was still affectionate yet very fearful and vulnerable, with eyes pleading for a look of love, willing to be embraced. Some months passed and then Social Services and Family Court decided that the original family was sufficiently rehabilitated and stabilized to have the child back...the foster family protested and pleaded presenting documentation from Doctors, therapists and the like with their professional opinion/evaluation determining how the child was abused, along with all their observations. The authorities said it is out of your hands, and it is best the child grows up as much as possible with the natural parents. The child returned to the nightmarish environment...after a month, the authorities saw the evidence of what the foster family was talking about and brought the child back to the foster family to safety. What a relief!...The family got to work, consoling and healing the child again from all the neglect and abuse...when suddenly, a few days later, the authorities came to whisk the child away...what was wrong now?...It was decided that the Catholic foster family was too religious and might warp the child, infringe on the child's freedom as a form of abuse...so they whisked the child away to stay with relatives of the original family or perhaps another...The foster family was heartbroken and to this day have no idea where the child is and have no right to know. Yet, the authorities said they would be willing to let them take care of children in the future, maybe, once reassessed, if their religious beliefs did not counter their policies...We receive Jesus like Joseph did, like Mary, as a Helpless Holy Infant, to take care of Him as we can, then we give Him away...not knowing into what kind of heart, soul or home He is going into...We may never hear of what happened to Him...we might see our Baby return once or twice a year, or at special occasions, we may be able to heal Him, feed Him, console Him if the soul comes to Confession or asks for help, otherwise...He is out there, Alone...yet He always remains affectionate, vulnerable, offering His embrace to any soul of good will, pleading for a look of love. Only God would do this for us, only God would ask this of us. Saint Joseph and Holy Mary show us how to take care Your Son!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2021
|