January 11, 2008

My Journey to God

The Holy Man’s Words

Some day,
Right after one of your homilies,
I’d like to distribute a pen and piece of paper
To each and every parishioner.

I would ask them to take a few moments
To note a word or phrase,
Maybe something more,
Relate a personal story
Of how the Holy Man’s words they just heard
Spoke to them, touched them,
In some way.

Perhaps it was a solace,
A greater sense of peace,
A burden lifted,
A new way of seeing.
Faith strengthened,
Hope renewed,
An action to be taken,
Gratitude,
A forgiveness realized,
Love experienced more deeply,
A sense of belonging,
Family,
Courage to go on,
Inexplicable joy,
A Presence felt,
A belief in something more.

I would gather all these pages up.
They could not be contained in a single book.
And proof to you, the Holy Man,
That what you say truly matters.
The power of your words revealed,
Blessed with the Holy Spirit’s seal.

A famous poet once wrote that,
“A word is dead when it is said, some say—
I say it just begins to live that day.”

Words are life,
The Word Is Life,
And this the Holy Man knows
And understands.

By Cathy Dearing

(Cathy Dearing is a member of St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis. She wrote this poem “after listening to a beautiful homily by Father Jim Farrell on the feast of the Holy Family.” She said her poem about her pastor also “expresses an appreciation and gratitude to all our priests, who preach to us each and every weekend and whose words inspire, heal and tell us about the love of God.”) †

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