I am always moved on a very personal level by the readings we heard today. Perhaps that is because I have been very blessed in my life with meeting people who were true holders of wisdom, prudence, and selflessness. The interesting thing, is that the two greatest examples of this that come to my mind, were also people who would have been considered the poorest from a material standpoint. Not that this seemed to bother them much, because in both cases they seemed to thoroughly enjoy their wealth of caring for others and the affection of the many people they touched. Truly, they had discovered some of the wealth that our Lord saw as important, they grew rich by giving of themselves to those who needed it more.
When I was in grade school, I met the first of these individuals in the person of our school janitor, Mr. Wilson. He was a tall sturdily built man who walked with a quiet dignity and presence, whether he was strolling along the halls, or carrying a pail and mop. It made no difference to him that his job was considered menial by some and was perhaps not the most lucrative. You see, he had us kids who all looked up to him, and that seemed to be enough. Without exception, every child in our school thought Mr. Wilson was simply amazing because of the way that he carried himself as he worked and the caring for us that he displayed so often. He simply possessed a set of priorities that in retrospect seemed to transcend the more conventional definitions of success.
The second person that comes to mind is friend Andy, whom I worked with back in the early 90’s when I was first getting into the technology field. Andy was one of the technicians at our shop, and a good one, but that is not what made him stand out. In those days, computer techs didn’t make a lot of money, and since we were collectively thought of as nerds, didn’t really get much in the way of career admiration compared with the more upwardly mobile professions. Yet everyone that he encountered seemed to find him remarkable because they sensed a unique peace and humility that seemed to emanate from him. He was small of physical stature, but huge in persona, and was uniquely approachable by all. He never hesitated to take on the most unpleasant tasks and to help others wherever he could, even if that meant losing his own personal time or convenience. There is one day in particular that stands out for me in my memory. We had just had a huge snowfall the night before, and the air was bitterly cold and windy that morning, so much so that the snow was blowing around the parking lot in huge swirls. One of the junior techs was going into DC that day and needed help with some gear he was unfamiliar with, and Andy had planned to meet him there. The trouble was that his old car was not running properly, and I watched as he lay down in the blowing snow and proceeded to fix it that morning, so that he could still make it into town to help. That would have been a difficult task for anyone, but as I later learned, it was probably monumental for Andy, you see I found out later that he was suffering from AID’s and Hepatitis. This still never slowed down his enthusiasm to help, and to be of service to others, because I believe he found a loving bond with those around him through this service that sustained him. I can still remember one of the last times that I saw him before he died, sitting in our shop workroom helping out our bench techs after hours. By all rights he should have been home resting, but that was not what brought him joy.
There is peace and reward that comes to those who quietly and humbly serve others that cannot be measured in material wealth, and that does not mire us down with its attachment to temporal things. No anchor of wealth, no binding of the soul by being overly attached to the trappings of this world can bring true satisfaction. No inclination to compromise what we know to be right because of a need to obtain worldly praise or definition of success can bring us comfort. Through the true wisdom and prudence that transcends the temporal, the soul is free to cling more closely to our Lord when we escape the snares that try to attract and distract us. Contentment and peace which come from God become our reward here, and the promise of moving toward our heavenly home our reward in the true life that is to come.
Podcast Link
The Deacons Bench 