Remain rooted in the truths of Christ Jesus

I know… it’s been a long time since I last wrote a post to this blog… that’s about to change. To begin with, a friend of mine recommended a site to read (Orbis Catholicvs Rome Tovrs). One of the entries which I wish to highlight is a scene from the popular television drama, ER, in which the flaw of post-modernism is explored. It is worth a watch:

As a priest, I really appreciate this scene. I have have entered rooms of parishioners when the hospital chaplain is in the midst of “narrating the end of one’s life” as it was put to me once. The chaplain portrayed in the above scene is a good example of bad hospital chaplains.

I remember in my seminary training in the late 1980s and early 1990s that we were told that when visiting the hospital, we should NEVER wear anything that would identify us as clergy. It would allow the patients to better identify with us and therefore, presumably, be in a better frame of mind to communicate with us.

It is advice I have never followed. When I go to the hospital, I am a minister of the Gospel, of the Good News, of hope, trust, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. These I cannot offer of myself; but as a sacramental presence of Christ the Priest, I can be a fountain of His grace and mercy to others, offering them words of hope and encouragement, mercy and forgiveness – the very hope, encouragement, mercy and forgiveness of the Lord God.

I have found over fifteen years of priesthood that most people are like the man in the above scene – they want answers that are eternally true – not answers that shift with the seasons or with the mood of the chaplain. Remain rooted in the truths of Christ Jesus, and you be able to offer those truths to others when the time comes, when they ask.