Fr Martin Delaney reflects on an inspiring true story of how the kindness of ordinary people can have such an impact on the lives of others
October is Mission Awareness Month and traditionally it is a time when we think of and pray for Irish religious missionaries around the world. Irish missionaries have been the face of God for many communities all over the world during the last century. I would like to share a little true story with you which shows that Irish missionaries are not just those ordained and professed in religious life.
I recently met a religious sister who worked most of her life in South Africa. She told me about an Irish couple whose work had brought them to live in South Africa during the worst years of the apartheid era. Michael and Mary (not their real names) lived a life of relative luxury in an all- white neighbourhood. They had the services of a housekeeper named Miranda (not her real name) who was from the black community.
Miranda lived in an all-black township some miles from the home where she worked.
One evening Miranda had worked late and was going to miss the last bus which would take her out to the township. Michael offered to drive her home. Now this was totally illegal and unacceptable in apartheid South Africa. No white man would be seen alone with a black woman and he certainly would not drive her home to the township.
Nevertheless, Michael insisted on driving Miranda home and when they reached her house she asked him to come in to meet her husband and children. Again this was unheard of. Michael went in a stayed some time with his housekeeper’s family.
As he was leaving Michael noticed a picture of the Last Supper on the wall of Miranda’s sitting room. There was something unusual about the picture which was not immediately obvious to Michael.
Inspection
On closer inspection he saw that it was the face of Jesus that was different. Miranda had replaced the face of Jesus with a picture of Michael’s wife Mary. He was shocked and of course asked Miranda what this was about. Miranda explained that for her, his wife Mary was the face of God because she had been so kind to her and her family.
On his way home Michael reflected on this extraordinary gesture. I’m sure Michael and Mary had never considered themselves to be missionaries. They were in South Africa because their jobs had sent them there. Nevertheless they put their faith into action particularly in the manner they had treated those who worked for them.
Yes, Michael and Mary were the face of God of others. In mission awareness month we are all called to be just that.
Reflection for Autumn
The leaves are turning and many are beginning to fall to the ground. Signs of death will soon be all around us but they also bring the promise of resurrection. The poet Edward Hays in his Autumn Psalm of Fearlessness reflects on all this very beautifully when he says:
I hear no fearful cries from creation,
No screams of terror,
As death daily devours
Once-green and growing life.
Peaceful and calm is Autumn’s swan song
For she understands
That hidden in winter’s death grip
Is spring’s openhanded
Full-brimmed breath of life
Get to the Point!
Last week one of my friends was travelling in the west of Ireland. He and his wife called into a church to say a prayer. As they were leaving the church they observed the following notice in the porch:
“Confession today (Saturday) will be until exactly 5.30pm. There is only one priest available for confession today. Make your confession direct to the point and confess only sins and offences. No need to explain why you did it. Thank you very much!”