He Is Our Peace (July 21, 2924- 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time)

Last Monday I visited a dear friend from Steamboat Springs who had just taken the Flight-For-Life helicopter to Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree.  Kathy had a meningioma tumor removed from her brain stem a month ago but had to quickly return because of excess fluid buildup in her cranial cavity.  As she anticipated another surgery to drain the fluid, she looked at me with a peaceful smile and said, “I’m just so grateful; so grateful that the doctors can do this surgery.  Jesus is with me, I know He is.  He’s just so sweet.”
 
Her attitude was atypical for someone in her condition.  But, knowing her as well as I do, I was not surprised.  Sometimes people get close to that state of peaceful gratitude after I have anointed them, but rarely are they there beforehand.  Nonetheless, I anointed Kathy and shared Holy Communion with her and her sister.  A gentle smile came over her as she closed her eyes and sunk into mystical union.  Her sister and I were blessed to observe her intimate communion with the Lord of love.  She rested in that smiling embrace for at least five minutes, but we knew she was not asleep.  She was simply resting in the heart of the Prince of Peace as He rested in hers.  
 
This was the fruit of many years of Holy Communions and Centering Prayer, that buoyed up a life of vulnerability from divorce and loss of loved ones.  Through it all, she continued to seek the Lord, and found Him to be her Good Shepherd.   She appeared to be praying, “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for You are at my side… even, in my heart” (cf. Psalm 23: 4).
 
Then she opened her eyes and gently shared them with me saying, “It’s beyond understanding.  But it’s really quite simple:  I’m available to Him and He’s here with me.  And for this I’m just so grateful.  He’s so sweet.”  She continued smiling as she closed her eyes and rested in His peace.
 
St. Paul tells us this weekend, “For He [Christ Jesus] is our peace…  He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2: 14, 17-18).  When we trust in Jesus, we no longer fear the dark valley for we believe that goodness and kindness follow us, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (cf. Psalm 23: 4, 6).  With Kathy, let us be grateful that “He is our peace.”                  
 
 You loving shepherd,
 
Fr. Ernest Bayer