October 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Many years ago there was a monastery of monks that had fallen on hard times. Once a great and famous monastery, it had dwindled in numbers to only five monks: the abbot and four others, all over eighty years of age. As the abbot of the monastery agonized over the imminent closing of the monastery, it occurred to him that he ought to pay a visit to the old monk who often retreated to a little hut in the woods and ask him if by chance he could offer any advice that might save the monastery.
He walked to the hut and explained the purpose of his visit. The old monk agonized with him as he had witnessed a similar occurrence in his town. The abbot, frustrated that he had not succeeded in his purpose, pleaded with the monk to give him some bit of advice that might save the monastery. "I am sorry," exclaimed the monk, "I have no advice to give. The only thing I can tell you is that one of you is Christ."
Upon returning to the monastery his fellow monks asked if the monk had given him any advice that could save the dying order. "Unfortunately," the abbot informed them, "he couldn't help. The only thing he did say was that one of us is Christ. I don't know what he means."
In the days, weeks, and months that followed, the old monks pondered and wondered what was the significance, if any, of the monk's words. One of us is Christ? Could he possibly have meant one of us monks here at the monastery? If that's the case, which one of us? As they contemplated, the old monks began to treat each other with extraordinary respect on the off chance that one among them might be
the Lord. Additionally, each monk treated himself with extraordinary respect on the off chance that in fact it was him. Little by little this extraordinary respect grew and radiated far beyond the walls of their monastery. More frequently people began to visit the monastery. Then it happened. Some of the younger men who visited the monastery started to talk more and more with the old monks. After some time one man asked if he could join the monastery. Then another. And then another. So, within a few years the monastery again became a thriving order of spirituality, thanks to that old monk's words.
The monk's words, a profound gift that gave this group of monks the opportunity to live in a setting characterized by the virtue that is so frequently overlooked. The monk's words were a gift that instilled respect, understanding, a conscience, commitment, inclusively, realism, contemplation, safety, wisdom, and love. The monk's words were a gift that established a community.
At Saints Peter and Paul Church we celebrate the fact that “Christ is among us!” We recognize that He is present in each and every member of our parish community. It is only by acknowledging that He is present in those around us- and also in ourselves - that we will obtain and nurture the respect, dedication and commitment, zeal, vision, concern, care, and love that form the type of community that we want to be: a community of faith in which the image of Christ is honored and venerated in each and every person. And, as the monastery in the community began to grow and flourish as a center of Christian life and spirituality, so will our parish community will continue to grow in faith, hope, and love.
With love in the Lord,
Father David