Recently, while visiting our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in our St. Joseph Chapel, which contains a beautiful icon of the Holy Family, I overheard a tearful conversation of a woman who was sitting in the pew behind me, talking on a borrowed cell phone. I heard her say she was almost out of gas and did not have any money. She needed to pick up her daughter at school and was afraid she would run out of gas. I could not help but hear what was said in the midst of her crying.
I soon learned she was calling one of our counselors in order to get an appointment. She related how she is so depressed she can hardly get out of bed in the morning. While listening and looking at the tabernacle, I knew we needed to help her. She had no idea who I was, for I had my large overcoat on.
Before she knew it, we were at a local gas station, filling her car full of gas. As she sat in her car, I gave her some gift cards to two local stores as a Christmas present. I encouraged her to keep her appointment with her new counselor and to continue meeting with her spiritual director, one of the priests in the diocese. She drove away with tears of joy.
This is just one of the many stories of the countless families and individuals who come to us in crisis each and every day that we are open for business. As we celebrate the birthday of our Redeemer Jesus Christ, who was born in utter poverty so we could one day be infinitely rich (2 Cor 8:9), let us be reminded that the greatest gift ever given to us by our heavenly Father was the gift of His Son at that first Christmas.
Please know that we are grateful to all of our benefactors who allow us to alleviate some of the sufferings in the Mystical Body of Christ (Mt 25:31-46). Please know we will keep all of you in our special prayers this Christmas and Christmas season. Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
