How God is Using Charbel

My friend, Charbel, moved to Qatar in early February, from Lebanon. In Lebanon, he lived in a small Christian city, where life is simple and everything revolves around the Maronite church, Saydet Talle. Life is good there. I know this because I visited there three times. People are loving and kind to one another. It is not a wealthy area, by any means. It is relatively poor. But, love makes it rich. The majority of the people in the city enjoy each others' company and holy days are celebrated by the whole community. It is beautiful to see. Most families know each other.

It was a difficult, but brave decision for Charbel to leave his family, friends and homeland to go to a strange country to improve his way of life. Qatar is much different from Lebanon. It is a very hot, dry country with a much higher concentration of people than Lebanon. There is a myriad of nationalities in the capital city where many come to seek a better way of life. The country is 97% non-Christian and it is against the law for Christians to speak of their religion openly to non-Christians. If they are caught doing this, they can be thrown in jail and fined heavily.

In the few short months since Charbel has lived in Qatar, however, people have seen the goodness and love that flow from him, and this has attracted the attention of some of the non-Christians; enough that some have inquired as to his goodness. One such occasion was during the Holy Week celebrations, Charbel was singing in the choir of his new parish and they were outside in the streets during a procession where the Way of the Cross was depicted by the youth of the parish. A Muslim bystander spoke with Charbel and asked him some questions about his faith. Charbel replied, "You know it is against the law for a Christian to speak of his faith to a non-Christian and I could be thrown in jail for speaking with you. I cannot speak with you about this." To which the man replied, "Sir, I swear by my own son that I will not tell of this if you will answer my questions." So they went off to the side and the man asked Charbel some questions about Christianity. He wanted to know about the Trinity and how God could be a human being and why God would allow His son to be killed. He couldn't understand how this would be true. He asked for Charbel's telephone number and if he could meet another time to ask more about Christianity.

As a production manager of the division of the glass company for which he works, Charbel has many workers reporting to him. He is kind to the workers, and often buys snacks and pepsi for them on their breaks. He spends time talking with them and just being with them. They are not used to this. This affects their morale, and they want to do a good job for him. He has had other conversations in the street here and there with workers who are non-Christian, inquiring as to why he treats the workers so nicely. I believe that the goodness of Christ flows from Charbel and they see this, whether or not they know that is what they are seeing. For, the first time I met him, back in 2007, I immediately could see this in him.

God uses people like this to reach others in profound ways, merely through their kindness and example. St. Francis said, "Go out and preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words." This is what Charbel does, and what we should all do. Let's go out and preach with our actions and love!!

Another time,

Must We Accept Love?

Throughout Jesus' public life, He spoke continually of how we should love God first, but the second commandment that He constantly preached was to love our neighbor as ourselves. He taught this on so many different occasions. He commanded us to love one another as He loved us. He even told the parable of the Good Samaritan when asked about who our neighbor is.

If we are to love one another, then that means there must be an object, or recipient of our love. That is plain logic. Love does not make sense if there is no recipient. So in effect, Jesus was commanding us not only to "love" one another, but to "receive" love as well. Sometimes it is difficult to receive love, but in most cases it is pride that prohibits one from receiving love. If one truly examines why he or she cannot or will not receive love, it boils down to pride.

By refusing the love of others, one prohibits others from obeying Jesus' greatest commandment. We must consider not only ourselves, but others, too, as we walk the Christian walk. Sometimes the more that is given to us, the more God expects.

The Washing of the Feet

I was priviledged to be the lector on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the Last Supper. In the U.S. it is not mandatory, but allowed, that after the sermon, twelve men get their feet washed by the priest up in front of the altar, representing what Jesus did at the last supper when He washed the feet of the apostles. He told the apostles that what He did they also must do. In effect, He was telling them that even He, the Son of God, is to serve. We, too, must do what He does, and serve others. Never should we consider it above our station in life to serve others, no matter how menial the job. Footwashing was one of the lowliest jobs for a servant to do.
Since I was the lector at this Mass, I sat close by and observed as Father washed the feet and soft music played in the background. My mind wandered to three occasions when feet played a significant part in a situation in my life. The first one was when I was in Medjugorje in 2006. I took my shoes and socks off to walk up apparition hill barefoot so that I could offer up the discomfort as a sacrifice to God. It was very uncomfortable and by the time I descended the rocky hill, I had fallen a couple of times and the bottom of my feet were bruised and scraped. As soon as I got down, there were some little shops and I sat down on the ground to put my shoes and socks back on. I was rubbing my feet and must have looked uncomfortable because one of the shop owners came running over to me with a small pillow and a cup of water. He told me to sit on the pillow and offered me the water to drink. I gladly accepted. He told me he would be right back. A couple of minutes later, he returned with a plastic jug of water and towel. In broken English he explained that he wanted to wash my feet. I felt embarrassed, but he insisted. He tenderly washed and dried my feet. It was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me.
Then my mind wandered to my little handicapped friend, Jason, who died a few years ago at the age of 18. I used to visit him at his house. Jason was wheelchair bound and could not speak. He was very misshapen, had to be tube fed and wear diapers. He was very handicapped, but, he knew me and knew that I loved him very much. I would visit him and he would smile at me with a huge smile from ear to ear. When I would visit Jason, I would massage his limbs. His little feet were very malformed. He couldn't wear regular shoes because his feet were so bent. One of his feet was more crooked. I would always hold that little foot and kiss the toes and massage that foot. I called it "my favorite foot." He liked that. I thought of Jason's foot while Father washed the feet.
Lastly, my mind wandered to Karim, whom I had in my home for a total of sixteen months. As you can see from the picture above, his feet were terrible from his disease. One job I had was to cut the dead skin off the bottom of his feet and away from his toes. He would cry and complain and often we would both be crying as I did this miserable job several times a week. Then we would bathe his feet and put the proper creams on them. The washing of the feet reminded me of this foot washing. The thought of this brought tears to my eyes and I had difficulty composing myself. I realized that I had indeed "washed feet" as Jesus had. What a joy to serve Christ by serving others in this way. I pray to have many more opportunities to "wash feet" of others in my lifetime.

A Continual Prayer for Karim

This picture is of a relic of Blessed Abouna Yaacoub that is in the first church dedicated to this saintly man. The church is on the mountain of the cross in Deir El Kamar, Lebanon, and was dedicated in June of 2009 when Abouna Yaacoub was beatified. I was fortunate to have attended the first Mass in this beautiful church when I visited Lebanon. Each time I attend Mass my prayer at the consecration is "Heavenly Father, I ask You to wash Karim clean with the blood and water that flowed from the side of Your son, Jesus. And I ask in the name of Your son, Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and through the intercession of Mary, His Most Holy Mother, Abouna Yaacoub, St. Charbel, Padre Pio and Pope John Paul II, that in Your great love and mercy for him, You would hear my prayer and heal him of his disease." I call upon the saints of Lebanon, particularly Yaacoub, whose very life was dedicated to loving and ministering to the handicapped and the sick, even right there on the mountain of the cross. I know for certain in my heart that if he were living today, he would serve God by ministering to little Karim.

I will make one last visit to Lebanon this summer to be with Karim and to see my other sweet Lebanese brothers and sisters. I hope to spend one entire night with Karim in Abouna Yaacoub's church. There I will offer a night of prayer and petition, seeking answers from God and from Abouna Yaacoub himself. Perhaps I will find peace and be able to let go of this great hope of mine. Perhaps God will give me the strength to rest in His will as is. But, I have not entirely found this peace yet; thus, the need to return one last time to Lebanon, my second home, among the Maronite people, my beloved second family.

Deepening Love

It was nearing the end of Jesus' public life. He had given his friends predictions about what was to happen to Him; that He soon would go where they could not follow Him; that the Son of Man would suffer and die, but that He would send another advocate to be with them. They did not understand these things. Peter wanted to defend Him against such a hideous death, but to that Christ replied, "Get behind me, you Satan." For Peter was thinking as man thinks, not as God thinks. Peter did not see the overall plan of God and how this was always in the plan from the beginning of time. The Son's will was always the Father's will, bound with the love of the Holy Spirit; Three as One, One in Three; an inseparable and inexplainable Mystery of our faith.

He continued to walk on with them, teaching and instructing them every moment He could, trying to give them all He could in these last times with them. He wanted them to know how great His love for them was, and that He entrusted them to the Father and the Spirit, even though they always were in the Father and the Spirit, because of the Trinitarian nature of our God. Yet, He continued to deepen this love, minute by minute as the time neared for His entry into Jerusalem, where He would be welcomed like a King, and later even proclaimed a King by the very ones who posted the sign upon the cross, the instrument of His death.

How can I deepen my love for You, Jesus, as I enter these last days of lent? I have shown my weakness during this holy season. I have stood with the soldiers and the jeerers of the crowd. I have been a member of the sanhedrin. So how can I join with Mary and John and Mary Magdalene? How can I cast away my fear and follow you bravely along the way of the cross? How can I trust that God's ways are indeed the only ways, even when the road is difficult and it seems so long? Why does it seem that I have so many roadblocks along the way that deter me? Why do I always get sidetracked? Why am I so easily distracted? Help me, Jesus, to be more like your mother Mary, and to just say "yes" to God's calling on my life and follow without question. This is the freedom You desire me to have. Help me to obtain this freedom in You. Amen.

Amazing Grace

At my school we have a special music class led once a month by the behavior specialist for the intermediate school district. The students all gather in the cafeteria. Here Steve leads with his guitar and one of the students accompanies some of the songs on the drums. He has an amazing talent on the drums. The students take turns selecting a song and standing up in the front with the microphone and leading the rest of the students in singing the song. It is great fun. Usually the songs are simple children's songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" or "The Farmer in the Dell."

Last Friday we got together for song. Ryan, who I've mentioned before, asked to be wheeled up to the front. He wanted to lead "Amazing Grace." Steve didn't know the chords for that one. So bravely, and without accompaniment, Ryan sang "Amazing Grace." The words were sometimes difficult to understand, but the message was clear. I had tears in my eyes, as did other staff, as he sang loudly and by himself. Yes, Ryan, God has given you amazing grace, to come forth and sing boldly His praises, despite your circumstances. You, so helpless by yourself, yet so joyful in God above, for you find love and joy in the Lord, despite the physical gifts that others have; despite the fact that you have to rely on others for all of your physical care; despite the fact that you are completely at the mercy of everyone else. Your example brings amazing grace to others, as well. For we can examine our own attitudes and learn from you. You need not speak a long lesson to us, for a few stanzas of a simple song speak volumes to us of Amazing Grace!!

The Passion of the Cross

I write this while on retreat with my God's Embrace Community. We have been contemplating the passion of Christ this weekend in lectio divina style in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It has been beautiful. Very personal. Very real. I offer some of my thoughts, born from prayer and the group spiritual direction we experienced.

Am I like Peter, James and John, who fell asleep when Jesus asked them to stay awake for a mere hour while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane? Or have I always been awake and ready to serve Him at all times? I must admit, I have been the one who fell asleep many times in my life, including the times I decided to stay in bed rather than to rise early for daily Mass on my day off of work. And when praying in the Eucharistic Adoration chapel, I admit I have occasionally dozed off. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Have I abandoned the Lord like the disciples did when the soldiers came to arrest Him? For heaven's sake, yes. How many times have I chosen to run away when fear or stupidity had hold of me when it came to defending my faith in front of non-Catholics. My fear of sounding "dumb" or ill-prepared caused me to remain silent and not stand up for my faith. I was like Peter when my silence was louder than His betrayals.

And how about at the foot of the cross? Would I have been there for Him like John, the beloved? Or would I be hiding somewhere off in the background because my fear of repercussion would have been greater than my courage to defend my Lord and God? I think that I would have probably been off with the others.

It is easy to say "I would not have left you, Lord. I would have stood by You all the way." But, Peter said this also, and he himself denied his Lord and friend three times, leading him to go off and cry bitterly in sorrow and despair.

Luckily, we have a God who is merciful, forgiving, and most of all loving. He is not a grudge-holder. On the other hand, in spite of all our many repeated failings, we can be assured that if we but just look at Him with sorrow in our hearts, that He will look back with great love and compassion and forgiveness. His eyes will tell of how much more powerful His love is than our failings. So as I continue to walk the passion during these final weeks of lent, I will fix my eyes on His and vow to do my best to avoid those things that hurt my King, and be the Veronica and the Simon for the remainder of this sorrowful season.