The People Who Make Us See Jesus

This weekend, many are celebrating, especially Irish Catholics. The feast of St. Patrick holds a special place for them. But in our family, this day holds a difference place of prominence. It is a day of sadness and remembrance because we lost one of the brightest lights in our family, my wife's mother Frances. She died the evening of St Patrick's day after enjoying a corned beef and cabbage dinner. She is dearly missed.
  She was one person who had a great affect on my life, and not just because she gave life to my loving wife. She taught me, in the way she lived and looked at life, much of what I have come to understand  about the bible and Jesus. A devout follower of Christ, she never lost her faith even if as her husband suffered she became disenchanted with the church. She had a way of helping others see both sides of a situation, and many times helped Mary and I through some rough times with family relations. I will always remember her smile and her sense of humor, and it is that same sense of humor and views on life that I have referred to in my homilies many times. From her unique nativity set, to always being ready to have another person at the dinner table; from an apartment packed to the gills for the holiday because gathering to celebrate and serving others was important to her, to her desire to enjoy life; I was changed so I would be accepting of this call to ministry. She helped my face the death of my grandmother, something that I was having trouble with because I had always been shielded from death. I wonder how much fuller our lives would have been had she not died at such an early age.
  I see her in my wife who is the source of my inspiration. I forget this sometimes. Many of my homilies that people have said touched their hearts were ideas that developed because my wife and I spoke about them. My ideas become combined with hers and a message is created. Yet all the accolades are directed at me. I don't think I could do this ministry, in fact I know I couldn't do this ministry, without her.
   So as everyone else celebrates, we will quietly remember Frances. Strong, loving, insightful, compassionate. We love you mom.