One of My Communicants

On Sunday mornings after Mass I go to one of the local nursing homes/assisted living centers to bring the gospel and holy communion to the Catholic residents. It is one of my favorite ministries. I have been doing it nearly eight years and I love the residents. Each one is unique. I love that they are excited for my visit and that they are ready and waiting when I come. In a funny way, I feel like they are "mine." When I am gone away for a weekend, I get upset if I find that my replacement does not show up. They are my responsibility and I love them.

There is one man in particular, who needs prayer. Although he loves to receive communion and to hear the gospel, he tends to use the gospel readings to apply them to situations and people in the local and national news. For instance, he will say that certain local individuals in the news are just like the sadducees and he will ream them out and say that they belong down in hell. Or he will criticize local priests or the bishop and say they are no good. It is very disturbing because every week I cringe wondering who it is he will massacre this week.

I try to say positive things about the person he tears apart, hoping he will catch on, but, he doesn't seem to realize he is doing what he does. I also try to say things like, "We must pray for them," or "we must love them>" to try to get him to focus on what Jesus would want us to do. Sometimes I think elderly people get into a rut of just being critical and ornery for the sake of being that way. I think they forget the gospel message.

Let's pray for those who get stuck in the habit of being critical and judgemental of others without trying to see the good in them. There IS good in everyone. And let's be careful of how critical we are of others.