I am grateful to God for having granted me the privilege of serving as Columbus diocesan director for the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.
I had to leave the job to become a 24/7 caregiver for my wife, who is bedridden after having a stroke.
The mission societies are part of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which as this is written is directed by Cardinal Antonio Tagle, former archbishop of Manila in the Philippines.
Diocesan directors of the societies throughout the United States have an annual meeting in a hotel in a large city.
The last such meeting I attended was in the Crowne Hotel, a few yards from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
My room was on the eighth floor. I had a good view of the northern section of the city.
As I left the room, I felt as though I was hearing two voices – one from the world and the other from Jesus.
On the nightstand was a card from the bar in the hotel lobby. On it was written “Make new friends in a relaxing atmosphere.”
Atop a table below the wall-mounted TV set was an ad saying, “With a request for an adult movie, your fantasies will come true.”
Another card on the table contained a listing of escort services in the area with a caption saying “Love away from home.”
And in one of the drawers was a Bible. On the cover was written, “Courtesy of the Gideon Society.”
Inserted in a page of the Bible was a small picture depicting Jesus knocking at a door, with the caption, “Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and eat with him and he with me (Revelation 3:20).
The voice of the world pounds on the door of my heart. The voice of Jesus taps at the door of my heart.
The voice of the world screams for my allegiance. Jesus’ voice softly and tenderly makes a request.
The voice of the world promises flashy pleasures. Jesus’ voice promises a dinner with God.
Let us be mindful that there is never a time when Jesus is not speaking. Never.
There is no place where Jesus is not present. Never.
There is no room so dark (or lounge so sensual) that Jesus is not there. None.
Jesus is always pursuing us with His relentless tenderness, tapping gently at the door of our hearts waiting to be invited in.
Let us always be mindful that our numbness is not an indication of His absence; that amid the fleeting promises of pleasure is the timeless promise of his presence; that Jesus is with us always, to the very end of time; that Jesus would never leave us or forsake us.
If we listen, there is no noise so loud that it can silence God’s voice.
“A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear Jesus’ voice and come out,” Scripture says.
A day will come when everyone will hear God’s voice. When that happens, all other voices will be silenced. Only God’s voice will be heard.
Some will hear God’s voice for the first time. It does not mean that God has not spoken to them, but that they never listened. For them, God’s voice will be the voice of a stranger.
Others will be called from their graves by a familiar voice. They will be like sheep that know their shepherd. They are the folks who opened the door of their hearts when Jesus knocked.
For those who opened their hearts to Jesus, a door will be opened again. This time it is not Jesus who will walk in into their hearts. It will be they who will walk into Jesus’ heart.