I was an altar server for several years during my elementary and high school years. Our original church had a small room ("sacristy") at the front of the church off the sanctuary. For such a small space, it had 3 doors: one that went outside; one that went into the church proper; and one that went into the sanctuary.
This is the place where the priest and servers put on their vestments and where the chalices, altar wine, hosts, etc. were stored. At that time, it was a place reserved mostly for the priests and altar servers.
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| What is hidden in your life? (Photo credit: Fun with Puzzles) |
One Sunday a woman knocked on the outside door of the sacristy before Mass. She wanted to talk with the priest. This was unusual at the time! I wondered what she wanted.
The priest talked to her for a short time, then closed the outside door. When it was time to begin Mass, the priest asked me to open the outside door, let the woman into the sacristy, and place a folding chair at the open door that led into the sanctuary.
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| Do you always find what is hidden? (Photo credit: Where's Waldo?, Paperflite.com) |
Throughout Mass, the woman sat or stood at the sacristy-sanctuary door, praying along with everyone in the church. When Mass ended and we returned to the sacristy, the woman was gone. The priest could see that we were puzzled. He explained that the woman had agoraphobia - it was difficult for her to be in large crowds.
This was one of many instances in my life where I have witnessed understanding and compassion: being able to listen to another person's story; hearing the fear, pain or loss; and working to alleviate the suffering -- even when going against the norm.
These moments allow the hidden to be revealed.
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| Can you see beyond the walls we create? (Photo credit: Woman Hiding Behind Cubicle, iStock Getty Images) |
What is interesting about this memory: as a youngster, I recognized this person. She was very involved in our parish life. Her revelation to the priest opened in me a new understanding about her - and how scary it must be for her to help others while fighting against her fears.
Isn't that the way it is with each of us? There are aspects of our lives that are shared with others... and there are hidden areas. We can be generous and understanding when we are in the realm of what is normal... and we are sometimes asked to go beyond what is accepted. We are human... and we need one another!
The lesson I learned that Sunday morning? Sharing our fears and phobias with others can invite us into grace-filled moments of understanding and compassion. In that way we can live, learn, pray, and remain a community.
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| Larry Gardepie (click on link for website) |
Amen! 🙏🏼💒🕯️
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