Thirty five years ago I was 46 years old. I went to church regularly but did not have any relationship with the Lord. One night, between Christmas and New Years, I was sitting in my living room listening to music on the radio. I think it was Janice Joplin singing at the time. The only lights on were those on the Christmas tree. Under the tree was an about one foot wide statuette of the “Last Supper”, Jesus and his disciples . I focused on the image that would be Jesus and the thought came that this was the night before he died by Crucifixion. Then the thought came to me if I were ready to die! I didn’t want to think about that, but then I thought that if I did die, what were the provisions I had for my wife and children? As all this was going though my mind, the thought came, “What about YOU?” As I tried to shake all this from my mind I heard, NOT IN MY EARS, but in my heart and I knew that it was Jesus, ” WHAT I DID ON THE CROSS, I DID FOR YOU BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!!” It was definitely not my thinking. I knew it was Jesus!
All I could do was THANK HIM! And I did. Shortly afterward I went peacefully to bed with no fear of dying but only a grateful heart!
A day or so later was New Years Day. My wife, children and I were at Mass. I remember the priest was Father Ireaneus Songlidongl, a visiting priest from Africa. He began with the words, “My brothers and sisters, let us give thanks to the Lord that He has given us another year in which to serve Him.” This deeply touched me and in my heart I said to the Lord, “Lord, if it is only another year, I want it to be serving You!”
It has been thirty five years! I joined a weekly prayer group, became one of the leaders and teachers there. I have organized a small evangelization team at my parish and we are praying about the best ways to reach out to all the parish members. All this, and since my dear and beloved wife who also drew close to the Lord passed away three years ago, I look forward to the time when the Lord will call me HOME to be with Him and being together with her again!
During my morning prayer time, beside reading the scriptures that would be read at Mass that day, I read Our Daily Bread. The written comments on the Scripture is wonderful and so very often heart touching. God bless all of you involved in Our Daily Bread.