Yesterday, I was supposed to attend a Filipino mass at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Long Beach. I sensed that God is leading me to respond to His call to evangelism, and this is perhaps the first of many things I hope to offer to the Lord.
The celebrant was already 30 minutes late, but he did not send word why he was absent. The attendees were getting restless. With whispers that there was no priest available, some families opted to leave and catch the next mass in another church. The mass servants went to the seminary beside the church, and found two potential replacements. The first one brushed the servants aside with this statement: "I do not want to meddle in that affair." As for the second priest, the servants were told that father was having his afternoon siesta and could not be disturbed.
I looked around the chapel, and saw the faces of God's sheep - wondering, spiritually hungry, and lost. For a moment, I could not believe that I was so affected by this situation. The mass servants resorted to ask a Filipino deacon, who gladly accepted to perform a prayer service. He was neither in the position to celebrate the Holy Mass, nor perform the consecration. Instead, the mass servants gathered the leftover hosts from the morning mass. The Lord somehow made me feel uncomfortable with these words:
"Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love." – Ws 6:5-9
As I lined up to partake of the body of Christ, I felt the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart:
- These are God's people intending to partake of the meal that Christ offered. God will bless them equally as when an actual priest stood before them.
- God was confirming His message through Tito Tony during his evangelization talk: there is an alarming decrease in the number of surviving Catholic priests, and those being ordained annually.
- The church's eyes were opened to the possibility that there will come a time when a priest will have to serve as a parish priest to several parishes, and that some parishes will not be catered to, just because there aren't enough priests.
- Someone has to stand up to gather His flock and lead them to the Lord.
- There was no consecration during the service, but I sincerely offered myself before the Lord.
- The focus is not on the priests whether they were too tired or were simply unavailable to serve. The focus should be on the role of the church for we comprise the body of Christ.
- Whatever state of life decision I made, God assures me that He will still make it happen despite the big task ahead because nothing is impossible with Him.
Yesterday, each St. Lucy partaker received a 1/8th piece of the host. But, as for me, God placed a big chunk of compassion in my heart. It loomed over me that I could not bring myself to pray about it. I felt that I was not ready. I got scared because I still had responsibility at home, and way so much more responsibility at hand if I said yes to His call. Yet, when I return to God, remembering the words of the song "While We Still Breathe", I could only utter this prayer: "Lord, let your will be done."
