June 2011 - Diocese of Bridgeport

June 201121ColumnsA Dad’s View from page 15enables us to love God in theway Christ loves the Father,” hesaid. “In this loving exchange weare opened to the experience thatwe are precious in God’s eyes.”The photograph, and Fr.Freeman’s words, got me thinking:How many times have Iapproached the body, soul, anddivinity of Christ in a state ofdistraction, without appropriatereverence, or with an impenitentheart? How many times have Ifailed to be mindful of the awesomepresence of the BlessedSacrament? How often haveI failed to open my heart tothe possibilities of this “lovingexchange”?Too many times, I’m ashamedto say. Far too many times.But the moment betweenthe boy and the Archbishophas given me a glimpse of whatI can do about it. The photohas helped me to understandwhat Jesus meant when hesaid, “Unless you change andbecome like children, you willnot enter the kingdom of heaven.Whoever humbles himself likethis child is the greatest in thekingdom of heaven. And whoeverreceives one child such asthis in my name receives me.”(Matthew 18:3-5)It never fails. Every time Ithink I have this tragic worldfigured out, something comesalong to wise me up. Every timeI give in to cynicism and despair,I remember that these innocentchildren are icons of God’s faceand vessels of His love.And then I remind myself: Thenews is not all bad.nA Women’s Viewfrom page 15but I truly believe the bluebirdhad been sent to them by theirdaughter in heaven to let themknow she was with them for thisbeautiful event.Many people have read VictorFrankl’s great book, Man’s Searchfor Meaning, telling of what helearned from his imprisonmentat Auschwitz in World War II.He speaks of his pain at beingseparated from his wife, who waskilled, yet felt “she was present,that she was with me. The feelingwas very strong that she wasthere. Then, at that very moment,a bird flew down silently andperched just in front of me, onthe heap of soil which I had dugup from the ditch, and lookedsteadily at me.” He indicates thatfor him, that bird was a messenger,helping him transcend hishopelessness.I personally had many amazingencounters with birds aftermy two beloved sons and mydaughter-in-law died. I wroteabout one of these amazing “visits”for Guideposts magazine andreceived many letters from peopleall over the country telling me oftheir own personal experiencesof being visited by birds after aloved one died. Each believedthat the birds were a sign fromGod that life goes on.Whether we believe, yes or no,that birds are spiritual messengers,we can all agree that beautifulbirds lift our spirits, and withEmily Dickenson, who wrote:“To hear an oriole singMay be a common thing –Or only a Divine.”n