God Gave Me A Gift Today

Even though I am at the point in the month where money is tight, and gas is precious, I went to Mass at Gethsemani. Usually, I go only on the first Sunday of the month, and then do all other Masses, except Solemnities, at Sisters of Charity at Nazareth. However, for the past two days I knew that I would be going to Gethsemani today, and it was beyond questioning, I just knew it was going to happen. Yes, it cost me in gas. Yes, it made no logical sense for me to do it, but I did.

As it turns out there was a reason for my going to Gethsemani, in some ways it is deeply personal, so I'm only going to share some highlights. Sunday Mass at Gethsemani is always crowded with retreatants, and with the locals who go to church there. I got there a half hour early to pray the rosary, collect my mind, and just be with God. As the place began to fill up I knew seats were getting harder and harder to find, but I didn't look around, as we're all there to pray, not spy on who is here today.

Then a young man sat down next to me wearing a shirt with an embroidered Ethiopian Cross on it. Now, many people have sat down next to me at Gethsemani, and I felt nothing more than body warmth, or smelled their cologne, this guy was different. There was no scent, but there was presence, and the presence was STRONG. I said, beautiful shirt. He said, it's Ethiopian.

Terce began and when it came time to go up front for Mass I picked up two of the booklets, handed him one, and said where do you want to sit. He said, second row.

That's as far as I'm going with the details, but what needs to be said is, God called me out to Gethsemani today so I could have an exchange of gifts with this young man. I had something he needed for his faith journey. He had something I needed for mine. He is a young mystic, with the confusion that comes with realizing one is a mystic. Pray for John, pray for his discernment. Pray for me, pray for my ability to remain open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

May God bless you all. Thank you young John Keeney.