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The Waters of Siloe 10-5-2008 |
In his book, “The Waters of Siloe,” Thomas Merton tells the true story of a French businessman in the months after World War II. The businessman had been born and raised Catholic, but he’d forgotten about his faith as he got older.
During a business trip, he was checking into a Paris hotel late one night. As he passed through the lobby, he saw a young nun, alone, who looked at him and smiled. He tipped his hat as he passed and went to the desk to sign in and asked the clerk, “Who was that nun?”
The clerk said, “What nun?” The businessman turned around and noticed that she was gone. “She was just there,” he said. “She went by and smiled at me.” The clerk said, “You must be mistaken. Nuns don’t go around at this hour of night smiling at men.” And then he added, “Monsieur, you are the only one who has been in the lobby in the last hour.”
A few days later, while still in Paris, the businessman had dinner at the home of some friends, and noticed on the mantle a small picture. He went over and took a closer look. It was the very nun he had seen in the lobby a few days before. “Who is that?” He asked. And he was told: “That’s St. Therese of the Child Jesus…Therese of Lisieux.”
Not long after that, the businessman went back to church. He began to pray again. He returned to the faith that he had abandoned so many years before. In a matter of months, he gave up the Paris hotels, expense accounts and silk suits. A year later, he entered the Trappist monastery in France.
Conversions happen throughout the course of our lives. The story of the French businessman is an extreme example of radically changing one's life. As we plow our way through our daily lives, striving to get closer to God and exercising such disciplines as patience, kindness and concern for neighbor, conversion happens in those moments of grace- big and small- when God’s plan triumphs over earthly desire. God is always present, waiting and drawing us close to Him. If you think you’re done on the spiritual path of life, you’re mistaken. God isn’t finished with any of us until we draw our last breath. What would you like to change in yourself today? How will you respond to the Lord’s invitation in your life today?
Being a Christian would be easy if we only needed to come to church and leave. Sorry, God wants more and He’s waiting patiently for you. Have a great week!
Love, Fr. Bill
PS: We will begin having our youth lector at weekend liturgies. Sign ups are starting at 8th grade and working backwards through our grade school and religious education program. I am looking forward to having our young people join this ministry.
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