Sometimes, like the people in the time of Hosea, we need to have the Lord call out to us to come back to Him to change our ways with the promise of a better life. The Lord speaks to us through His Word (as we have just heard proclaimed), our times of silent prayer and meditation, our times in Eucharistic Adoration, and all forms of prayer, including our meditations upon the Rosary.
The Lord can certainly speak to us through the words and actions of others. On Wednesday afternoon, as I stood impatiently waiting for someone to come to the coffee shop counter to take my order, I turned around to see a young man in line behind me. I asked if they still took your order there or if you needed to use the tablet on the counter.
He said he wasn’t sure and then let out a booming request, “Hey, can we get a little help out here?” It worked; someone appeared and took our orders. As I turned to thank him, I noticed he had a Rosary tattoo on his arm and complimented him on it. He said, thanks, Father, I was raised to love Jesus and to pray the Rosary. I told him that he was blessed to have that upbringing and that I work on the "Rosary Priest" — Father Patrick Peyton’s Cause for Sainthood.
Conversations of Hope
He then told me about some struggles he had been through but then asked if I’d pray for his aunt, who has cancer and has been so good to him. I said I would, and then he said, "Father, I’d like to have my son baptized; how can I make that happen?"
As we took our coffees, I asked if he was local and then directed him to a priest at a local parish. I explained that Father would gladly welcome a new member into God’s family. My new friend then told me that he’d say a prayer for my Dad, who was having a day surgery. As we parted ways, I couldn’t help but marvel at how God teaches and encourages us through ordinary moments, how He can use our times of worry, impatience, and need to help us realize our reliance on Him and each other.
Blessings of a Delay
Most likely, if there had been someone to take my order right away, I never would have had that conversation with my friend with the rosary tattoo. I would have turned back a few minutes sooner but without having the chance to be encouraged by a brother in Christ and to be able to help him to have his son baptized.
My brothers and sisters, Jesus sends us out to spread His Good News of Salvation daily. He tells us that it won’t always be easy, but He promises to give us the words to speak through the Spirit. The psalmist also speaks to all who might be searching or finding life challenging…a beautiful prayer to the Lord, “Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain me.”
Let that be our prayer to God today and for our families: the joy of salvation and a willing spirit to follow Jesus.
- Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and Rosary) at the 30-minute mark on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
