TOSS THE LIFE RING

There was a different priest on the altar today.  The priest noticed, as he headed over to the ambo, three teenage boys sitting in the third row that seemed not so interested in being in church.  The priest started the homily talking of an ocean fishing trip with a father, his son and his son’s best friend.  They were enjoying great conversation and not paying much attention to fishing when they felt the winds shift suddenly.  A fast-moving storm was approaching.  Just as the father turned to start the engine a rogue wave hit the boat knocking them to the bottom of the boat.  The father barked at the boys to put on their life jackets, as he frantically tried to start the engine.  Then the second wave hit the boat broadside and the boys were thrown overboard.

The father, still in the boat, heard the boys calling for help.  The currents were pulling them apart and farther away from the boat.  The father grabbed the life ring, he knew he would only be able to save one boy.  The priest noticed the three teens on the edge of their pew.  He threw the ring and as the boy grabbed hold the father hollered, “I love you son.”  He pulled his son’s best friend onto the boat and headed to harbor.

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” (Mt 18:12) The father in the boat saved the one.  You see this visiting priest was the son’s best friend, who, at the time of the incident a boy who had not yet accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

In my Advent journey I have come to recognize how often our Heavenly Father throws life rings to us.  God’s life rings come in the form of invitations.  An invitation by our priests to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  They come as invitations to participate in daily Mass, when possible.  The invitation to spend an hour with Jesus, praying in Eucharistic Adoration.  To participate in first Friday Mass, Live Rosary, Choral Concerts, in the many prayer and scripture study groups, and the host of other community service projects the parish supports.  The list of these invitations goes on!

The challenge is, every time we convince ourselves there is something more important or a higher priority in our life than developing our relationship with God.  Whether it be work related, sports, your favorite tv show, yes, even family stuff.  We slap the life ring away insisting that we can keep our head above the stormy waters on our own. 

When that boy grabbed onto the life ring, in the midst of the raging sea, he had no idea how his life was going to change.  He experienced a deeper relationship with the Father, which enabled him to be free to give himself completely in service as a priest to save others. 

My first heart longing goes out to those who may be attending daily Mass for the first time longing for a deeper relationship with God.  Here’s the life ring.  What do you need to re-prioritize in your life to free your hands & heart to grab onto it.

My second heart longing goes to those of us who are secure in our faith, maybe still clinging to the life ring, but we know the compassion and mercy of God. We, by our ordination at Baptism, are to throw life rings to others. To leave the security of the 99 and go after the one that strayed.