Today, we had the privilege of bringing the bishop’s sister to North Java. She wanted to see the church he talked about so much. He was proud to help this farming community reopen its doors to pray and serve as a Catholic community.
Despite a bad cold, she got up at 2:30 in the morning, took her medicine and went back to sleep. When she got up at 6am, she felt better, got dressed and was waiting for me at 8am to drive her to Holy Family. She sat in a pew next to Mary who treated her as our special guest and made her feel at home.
At the service, Corey presented her with a gift of maple syrup from our farms, a parish calendar with pictures of our kids and a card from all our families that expressed our sympathy and prayers.
Driving her back home, she shared that she could feel the warmth of the people that impressed her brother. The celebration of the Eucharist was joyful and profoundly helpful since she was troubled by the decision when she agreed to stop dialysis and put her brother into hospice. She had felt guilty with that decision despite reassurance from the doctors that all his treatments were not going to cure his disease. In the moment when she received the sacred oil on her hands she heard the words, “Now be at peace.” At that moment, she experienced a calm in her soul that brought her peace. She cried on the way home as she shared her worries and fears and now let Jesus touch her heart with His words, ”your brother is at peace.”
Here was a woman in despite need of healing and as we heard the story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law, another miracle was taking place in our church in North Java. A faithful sister who stood by her brother for seven months while he struggled with his illness had an angel watching over him. She was the angel in need of healing.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends and especially this morning, my Holy Family community for your smiles, your hugs, your gentle words of comfort and kind memories of our “Bishop” that let his sister know that you are “hope givers.” May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always.
