If You Ask Anything Of Me In My Name, I Will Do It
by Deacon Bob Schnell
Last evening I went to an event sponsored by a group called "Amplify Ministries" that featured a speech by John O'Leary, a Christian motivational speaker from St. Louis, MO. Mr. O'Leary has a fascinating history-- he was burned over 100% of his body, and 85% of the burns were third-degree (the worst level) as a result of a household fire when he was 9 years old. The odds that he would survive were essentially zero. But he did survive. He lost his fingers, and has other permanent damage, pain, scars. But he survived and prospered, in large measure due to the efforts of his mother and the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team broadcaster, Jack Buck. Mr. O'Leary is a wonderful story-teller, and a great inspirational speaker. His message is universally positive and hopefull. He wants people to understand that "ordinary is good enough" if we're doing Jesus' work-- after all Jesus picked ordinary people to be the apostles. Watching him play the piano with his misshapen hands is a simple and effective demonstration of what can be done even in the face of terrible physical challenged. I was particularly struck by his repeated statement that "our best days are ahead of us." Anyone can find things about which to complain or criticize-- that's super-easy, he says. But the Gospel message is one of hope, love, joy. That message isn't just a pipe-dream, he would say, but a reality. We are, after all, celebrating Easter. He has risen! Boy that is a message we need to hear, especially as Catholics these days. It seems like we are spending so much time looking backward, trying to deal with the abuse crisis, working on healing. Yes, we can't forget what happened, and we need to make absolutely sure it won't happen again. But healing is God's work, not ours. As Mr. O'Leary said about his own situation: "Doctors put on the bandages but God heals." So I wonder if it isn't time for us to remind ourselves of what we read about in today's Gospel (Jn 14: 6-14): Whatever we ask in Jesus' name, Jesus will do. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He wants to empower us. He wants us to be successful in building the Kingdom. He wants us to spread the joy of the Good News. We can do all of that. Ordinary people that we are, we can do the work of the Kingdom. We can be missionaries (the term Mr. O'Leary used to describe believers). By doing that, we not only do God's work and grow the Kingdom. We also create an environment where victims can access God's healing power, and where the past will not be repeated. A little optimism, and positive thinking, might be exactly what we need at this time. Mr. O'Leary certainly has it.