“God doesn’t choose the qualified. He qualifies the chosen.” (Blessed Mother Teresa)
Several weeks ago, I was running an LTP Internship course at Catholic University and we shared our dorm with a group of Boy Scouts from the West Coast. One night, the Scout Master came up to me with tears in his eyes and said the following. “Fr. Michael, I really need help. I recently found out that the mother of two of our boys just took her life this morning. Their grandparents are flying out now, but I need to tell the boys and my troop the news. I knew this woman well…she suffered from severe depression over many years, but she was so close to all of these boys. She was their den mother for years. I can’t do this Fr. Michael….”
I said a little prayer to the Holy Spirit, allowed a few moments of silence and responded: “Jim, God is asking you for help right now. I know you are hurting and this will be very hard to handle, but Christ will be right next to you and help you say the right words to comfort these boys through this moment. Christ chose you for this moment,…you have a big heart and a strong Faith and he wants to help these boys through your loving presence. Ask your troop to pray to God for this family. This woman was suffering from a lot of depression that she could not control and God’s merciful love will take that into account…right now, I suggest you go to the little chapel next door and spend a few minutes with Christ.”
When I saw Jim at breakfast the next day, he gave me the thumbs up and forced a gentle smile, whispering “Thank you.”
