First Class

Details: 23 August 2013

Have you ever been invited to two weddings on the same weekend? Recently, I was invited to the wedding of Scott Yates and Kelsey Theisen in Roseland, Nebraska. I know Scott because he was a former seminarian and know Kelsey and her family who are from Hastings. The other wedding was of Chris Schilmoeller and Mirna Martinez. Chris being the son of some dear friends of mine. Chris’ father and I have known each other for almost 40 years!

The weddings were on the same day, but at different churches 1,700 miles apart. Since I cannot bilocate I had a decision to make. ‘Pahokee, Florida, here I come,’ I told myself! I will catch up with Scott and Kelsey sometime soon.

When flying, I usually check in at the usual place, get my boarding pass, proceed to security, and then to the gate. This time I checked in 24 hours ahead of time and printed off my boarding passes while at my desk in the office. I was a little nervous, because although I was given my seat assignment from the flight from Atlanta to West Palm Beach, I was unable to get my seat assignment for my flight from Omaha to Atlanta. The boarding pass instructed me to get my seating assignment at the gate in Omaha.

I never fly first class because of the price (we priests are not paid much and we are to live in the spirit of poverty), and because of the appearance of a priest sitting in first class. I can only imagine the thoughts of some, "Father uses his salary from the Sunday collection to fly first class."

Going through security was a breeze, and while at the gate the attendant said, "Father, we are seating you in first class!" "Great!" I thought. As many of you know, the first-class passengers are seated first and then the rest of the passengers. I had hoped no one would recognize me and think, "There is where my contributions to CSS go, for a first class seat for Father Kubat!" Right about that time I heard someone say, "Good morning, Father Kubat!"

But in God’s providence I quickly found myself sitting next to an Evangelical Protestant businessman who was on fire for his faith. So for the next hour and a half, we talked about faith, our most precious gift. He seemed very open to the Catholic faith and was most interested in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In addition, he agreed that it is living faith that saves, faith conjoined with charity, not dead faith, faith without works (which are the evidence of love) (1 Cor 13; Jas 2).

After landing in Atlanta, I reflected on our donors and benefactors. It is because of their living faith that they support us. I am most grateful to all of you, because without you, there would not be a Catholic Social Services! Please know you are all in our prayers because you are all first class!