November 8, 2006
Every once in a while, we can see the grace of God at work in someone’s life. While at a youth retreat recently, I had a glimpse of His powerful, yet tender work. There was one young man there (I’ll call him John) who was somewhat rough looking. John was dressed in black and was wearing a heavy metal t-shirt. He looked an unlikely candidate to participate in and enjoy the retreat, and perhaps that was why the retreat team took him under our wing. I noticed that one after another, we each made an effort to talk to, reach out to, and pray for John.
While we were seeing his tough exterior, I am certain that the Lord was looking tenderly into his heart, and that our Blessed Mother was interceding for him. On the last morning of the retreat, John carried the crown of flowers for the crowning of Our Lady. He was no longer dressed in his heavy metal t-shirt, but instead he wore a shirt with an image of a golden monstrance and a quote from the Gospel of St. John, chapter 6.
One of the Sisters, after the crowning, gave John a miraculous medal to thank him for carrying the crown. With tears in his eyes, he gave her a big hug and then put the medal around his neck.
The Lord was seeking after John in a powerful way. In reality, He seeks after each one of us—sometimes hidden, yet other times in an obvious manner. As long as we are open, as John was, He will work powerfully in each of us. God wants us to draw closer to Him. As Jesus said: “This is the will of the One who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what He gave me. . . For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life.” Jn. 6:39-40
Sr. Cecilia Jesse, CFR
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