These words Pope Francis spoke back in March made my ears perk up: “I remember when I was visiting a retirement home, I spoke with each person, and I frequently heard this: “How are you? And your children? Well, well. How many do you have? Many. And do they come to visit you? Oh sure, yes, always, yes, they come. When was the last time they came?” I remember an elderly woman who said to me: “Mmm, for Christmas.” It was August! Eight months without being visited by her children, abandoned for eight months! This is called mortal sin, understand? (General Audience, March 4, 2015)” These are strong words.
We have an elderly priest in our community that is becoming more and more dependent on us for all his needs. He often just wants someone to be with him, not for any particular need, just to keep him company. He is afraid of being left alone. Lucky for him, he can always count on the presence and love of his religious family that truly loves him as a father and older brother. Not everyone is so fortunate. But sometimes it is hard for me to spend hours each day just being there, speaking about the same old things, trying to keep him company and put a smile on his face. It can seem a waste of time. That sounds bad, but how many of us have this attitude hidden deep within toward someone in our life: “Why not go one hour instead of two? Why not go once a week instead of more often? It would be a more productive use of my time.” But productive according to whom? What does Christ think?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. (Is 55:8)” Would Christ chide me as he did to St Peter: “You are not thinking as God thinks, but as man. (Mt 16:23)” Does he see it as an unproductive use of time? I went to the chapel to ask him.
As I lifted my eyes and saw him gently gazing at me from the monstrance, it suddenly struck me: “You want me to love father as you love me in the Eucharist.”
Look at him in the tabernacle. He is always there for me. He doesn’t get anything out of it. He is “wasting his time” to be with me in the Eucharist because he knows what a comfort it is for me just to know that he is there. He is there even if I don’t go to him. He doesn’t “do” anything. His presence is enough. “That is how I want you to love father.”
There is no better way to spend my time. I need to be there for those who need me, just as he is there for me, who need him. No shaving off a half hour here and there for the sake of being more productive. That is not how Christ sees it. It is so hard to see things as he does, but that doesn’t make that vision any less beautiful. He knows it’s hard for me. That’s why he said so in the Scriptures. But he is there in the Eucharist to help me see and love as he sees and loves me in the Eucharist.
