WOW!

Wow…aaah…um…aaaaaaaah.

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

I have never been shy to speak my mind.  This “talent” however, requires great humility…a quality I am still waiting for Jesus to install in me.  (Yes, install!  If He does not put it into me by His own force, I fear I will never live to see it instilled in me.)

I had walked into my first RCIA class with great anticipation.  I left the class gasping for air.

Two months later, the only thing left for me to do was pray.  And pray I did.  I am still praying.

This is not to say that I did not think of extreme measures – buying a ticket to Rome and showing up at the Vatican, pounding on the door.

But all dramatic impulses set aside, I knew I would only stand at the Vatican door, knock politely and speak with the receptionist in the front foyer (if there is a foyer).  And the Pope would either be out of town or unavailable.  After all, I’m not even one of his flock – a Catholic inside the fold.  And that would leave me several thousand dollars short and standing there at the desk without a ticket to enter, right where I am today…on the outside of the church.

There was only one thing worse than not being able to speak with the Pope.  I had to remember that echos don’t always come back to you.

What if I managed to present my case to the Pope…

What if the Pope listened with complete attention…

What if the Pope was as kind and loving as he always is…

…and what if the Pope told me to go back to the parish and talk with my priest?

What if this really is the best that the Catholic Church can do…or that the Catholic Church is willing to do?

What if the full wisdom of the Catholic Church says that it is OK to charge a person $60 to learn about Christ and His Church?  That it takes ten months to be smart enough to follow Christ?

What if the full wisdom of the Catholic Church says that for the right amount of money, for enough charitable acts of mercy, for enough months…or years waiting to enter the Church…a person can learn enough…and prove enough…to merit coming into the fold of the Great Shepherd?

What if there really is a bottom to the well at the Vatican…and…

What if the echo were to come back and knock me to my knees?

Lord, let me catch my breath…

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

 

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