“I am the vine, you are the branches…Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”: (John 15:5). This is today’s gospel reading that fits perfectly on this special day.
May 6th is the 49th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood in the farming community of Caledonia, I knew very little about farming. This year, I have not yet planted any seeds in my garden because the soil is too cold and the ground too soggy with all the rains. Yet, I have worked over 70 hours preparing for this year’s growing season. In preparing for ministry, I spent 13 years in seminary preparing to work in 50 parishes, hospitals, colleges and reopened a decade closed Catholic parish to bear fruit again.
In the past month, this shepherd could not have completed any of his farm chores without the help and wisdom of my mentors. When the torrential rains created foot deep trenches that destroyed our driveway hill, Cam and Brad came to our rescue to repair the driveway. When I needed Norway Spruce trees, Doug provided seven healthy trees from his tree farm that had a root system weighing over a 100 pounds. After I rolled the trees into position and dug the seven holes, Mr. Milk brought his two young Mexican workers Mateo and Carlos to help plant the trees into the ground. When I needed mulch to spread around our 40 trees, another Doug provided a truckload of natural mulch. After I had spread 500 shovels of natural mulch around our serviceberry trees, my Mexicans helpers unloaded the remaining mulch into the compost bin. Thanks again to Denny for donating four hay bales where I will plant zucchini and cucumbers. However, the real tough job is making holes in those hay bale to put the soil and for this job Jamie let me borrow his reciprocating saw that did the trick but with a lot of sweat and tears.
Ministry demands this same commitment to bear fruit. Thanks to Bishop John, I am grateful to serve as mentor and counselor to 12 men who have been ordained as deacons and priests and look forward to the ordinations of Fathers Val and Steve in San Antonio in June. Or, ministry means helping Maggie, my neighbor, talk with customer service to help pay her phone and utility bills. Or, help find vendors to get quotes to replace her broken gutters and apply for a government grant that’s 20 pages long to qualify for funds to repair her home exterior.
You can’t bear much fruit, if your farm equipment is out of sorts. Thanks again to Jeff, Bethany Fire Chief and master farm mechanic and his son Jamie tuning up the tractor, mower and gator. However, I need to buy parts at the John Deere store to repair the bushhog.
I am humbled o continue to provide critical incident services as a first responder to bring comfort to coworkers who have suffered a trauma. This includes nurses at Rochester General Hospital coping after a visitor pointed a gun at the hospital staff and helping a teacher aide at Mary Cariola find Section 8 housing for her sister who was evicted by the landlord.
“That you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” To serve the Lord for 49 years is a humble privilege. I am grateful for the many blessings in my life that are gifts from God…especially the vineyards/gardens within my life that come in the form of friends and mentors who have helped me tend to the fields in my garden.
Lord, I will continue to pray daily for all my Sonshine Friends. Vineyards and gardens provide time to enjoy nature’s silence, to listen to an inner voice from God communicating a simple message of love: “ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you”……
