"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us." – 1 Jn 4:11-12
Because of the saint we remember today, I've been asking myself a simple question. The last time I went through a door, did I look to see if I could hold it open for someone else? Was I attentive to the lives around me or stuck within myself? The last time I was driving on 275 and someone needed to merge into my lane, did I welcome them in?
Today we celebrate a Canadian saint whose life began as a very sickly child. After his death at the age of 91 there would be 1 million people who would visit his remains. 1 million people did not visit because he was a famous athlete or successful businessman. They came to say goodbye to the man who had taken notice of them—who had quite literally held the door for them. Countless miracles have been attributed to this "porter," miracles which perhaps seem so far out of our reach of doing. Yet the example of St. Andre is far simpler than miracles—it's the example of seeing our neighbor and courageously caring for him or her. In fact, you and I may not have the same gift of healing St. Andre had, but perhaps we can let a person merge into our lane or we can see someone, and hold the door for them.
Where might I better see others?
Lord, allow me to take notice of the lives around me.
Reflection by:
Fr. Chuck Dornquast
Did You Know...
Fr. Chuck Dornquast is a son of St. Joseph Parish in Zephyrhills. After graduating from Zephyrhills High School he entered seminary where he would spend the next 9 years. While in seminary he spent time at many of our diocesan parishes and discovered more and more the heart of Christ the High Priest within him. After ordination he spent his first 4 years of priesthood as the associate pastor of St. Lawrence in Tampa. He currently serves the Diocese of St. Petersburg as the Director of Vocations.
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