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March 17: Weekly reflection on vocations
March 17, 2010.
Dear Friends, "I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth." (Ps 34:2) Perhaps you'll recall these words from Sunday's Responsorial Psalm. We hear them and pray them many times through the liturgical cycle. At this "half-way" point of Lent, we are encouraged to rejoice, to celebrate the journey that we have been on, to keep focused on what is essential, to hold close what should be held tightly and to release what should be let go. A week ago, I had the grace to be with my good friend, Deacon Dick Braun, and his wife and daughter at the moment when God called Dick to eternal life. It is a rare and unforgettable gift to be with someone at the moment of death. In the 24 days preceding Dick's death, I was able to be at his bedside to visit with him and his family as they came to terms with his impending passing. There were indeed many painful, tearful moments, but the truth is that there were even more moments of total joy as I witnessed Dick ministering to every person who entered his room, smiling at them, blessing them, telling them how happy he was that they came to be with him. Each one left his presence feeling loved, reassured and special. Dick lived Psalm 34. He had seen and tasted the goodness of the Lord throughout his lifetime, through the long journey that led him from the ghetto of Reading, PA, to the vastness of the Yukon Territory and back to his simple home on the side of the Blue Mountains. His true sanctuary, however, was the tabernacle, where he daily encountered his God and laid his life at the foot of the altar. His parting words to family and friends were: "Love everyone and always forgive." The crowd of people that came to say farewell to "Deacon Dick" and to console and comfort his family is proof that God's blessing reached them through this simple man. Dick was full of the praises of God and the legacy he leaves to us is the blessing of unconditional love. Dick served our country as a member of the Marine Corps. In his casket was a Marine bumper sticker with the words "Semper Fi" (Always Faithful). Truer words couldn't be spoken about Dick. At his graveside, the final tribute was the playing of 'Taps.' From the he crowd of people At his graveside, "Day is done, gone the sun,from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky. All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh... Thanks and praise, for our days, 'neath the sun, ‘neath the stars, 'neath the sky. As we go, this we know: God is nigh.Rest in peace, Deacon Dick, and watch over us as we take up your baton and run the good race, singing God's praise not only with our lips, but with our lives. Until next week...Joyfully in the Holy Family, Sister Michele Editor’s note: Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher, national vocation director for the CSFNs, shares this weekly reflection via e-mail with a group of women discerning their vocation. If you are interested in joining that on-line community, please email VOC4NAZ@aol.com or call 215-335-6387. To read past reflections, visit 'Joining Nazareth/Vocations' on this site, then click on 'Vocation Reflections.' At the bottom of this week's reflection, you'll find the 'Reflections archives' button.
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