J
JReducation
Guest
I was at a Ministry Fair today. It was rather interesting. There were several boys in their teens there. They had volunteered to “man” (no pun intended) the Life Teen table. I work with Life Teen, Respect Life, Religious Education and am the novice master for our community. I’m all over the place when I’m not in my cell. Anyway, be that as it may . . . One of the boys asked me where I came from. I had him guess and told him that I was an American, but my ancestry was European and Middle Eastern. Those were the only clues that I gave him. Finally, he could not figure out that I am have Israeli and a convert from Judaism.
When I told him, he asked me why I converted to Catholicism. As I explained to him, several other teen boys started to gather around me. Suddenly there were about 10 high school boys very attentive. I explained that I had been educated by Franciscans, because there were no schools in the South for Jewish kids. At the time that I was in grade school we still had segregation in the South, Colored and White Schools, as they were called. I had to laugh, because the kids asked me where did I fit in. I had to respond, “Nowhere, that’s why my parents sent us to Catholic school with the Capuchin Franciscans.” They got a big chuckle out of that, because here was this Jewish family running away from discrimination in public education so they placed their five Jewish sons in a Franciscan school.
I told the kids that there were three driving experiences during my life at the Capuchin-Franciscan school. By driving I mean that they moved me to want to know more about this Jesus guy.
I asked him if he knew how conception came about. All the boys snickered. Of course they all know about sex. I narrowed it down. I asked them to think about the size of grain of pepper. Then imagine something that’s about ten times smaller. I reminded them that they came from an egg and a sperm cell. If they could experience their entire lives, the body, mind, soul, relationships and everything that is part of who they are and believe that it all starts with a spark of life at the time of the union between those two tiny cells, is it not easier for God to stay with us?
Suddenly, 10 jaws just dropped. I told them that this is why we need not be afraid. If God can bring the complexity of human life into existence out of two very simple cells, how much easier is it for God to just stay near. Then we proceeded to discuss the signs of his presence: Eucharist, Church, and life itself.
But there are two points that move me almost to tears. 1) I saw the hunger in the eyes of the boys for Jesus and the scriptures. They were just in awe of one simple phrase, “Do not be afraid.” and 2) I saw their awakening to the meaning of “I shall be with you until the end of time.” They saw this through the sacredness of their own conception. I pray that if I made a mark on these boys tonight, it was one of a deeper respect for life.
We need more and better brothers than I to do this work. Kids are watching and waiting.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
When I told him, he asked me why I converted to Catholicism. As I explained to him, several other teen boys started to gather around me. Suddenly there were about 10 high school boys very attentive. I explained that I had been educated by Franciscans, because there were no schools in the South for Jewish kids. At the time that I was in grade school we still had segregation in the South, Colored and White Schools, as they were called. I had to laugh, because the kids asked me where did I fit in. I had to respond, “Nowhere, that’s why my parents sent us to Catholic school with the Capuchin Franciscans.” They got a big chuckle out of that, because here was this Jewish family running away from discrimination in public education so they placed their five Jewish sons in a Franciscan school.
I told the kids that there were three driving experiences during my life at the Capuchin-Franciscan school. By driving I mean that they moved me to want to know more about this Jesus guy.
- The charity of the brothers was very Jewish. In Jewish tradition, charity is the second Mitzvah or Law. The first is love of God and the second is love of neighbor.
- The faith of St. Francis of Assisi when hears the voice of Christ speaking from the cross at the Chapel of San Damiano. Christ commands Francis to go build. To me the entire concept of building had a very existential meaning, because throughout the history of Israel, my people were always building and the pagans around us destroyed. We’d go back and rebuild. The idea that God would command St. Francis to build is very consistent with the relationship of the Jewish people and God. The Jewish people have always had to rebuild after each dispersal or Diaspora. This Jesus who spoke to Francis was very credible for me, because his message was very Jewish. “Go build.”
- Finally, there is one statement that Jesus makes that is not found in any other faith around the world. “Be not afraid.” Jesus makes this statement over and over again. Behind it there is a promise of protection and companionship. This to me was the nail that sealed the Catholic faith on my heart. As Jews we have always lived in fear. Jesus’ words speak to the Jewish heart and experience. “Do not be afraid;” “I will be with you until the end of time.”
I asked him if he knew how conception came about. All the boys snickered. Of course they all know about sex. I narrowed it down. I asked them to think about the size of grain of pepper. Then imagine something that’s about ten times smaller. I reminded them that they came from an egg and a sperm cell. If they could experience their entire lives, the body, mind, soul, relationships and everything that is part of who they are and believe that it all starts with a spark of life at the time of the union between those two tiny cells, is it not easier for God to stay with us?
Suddenly, 10 jaws just dropped. I told them that this is why we need not be afraid. If God can bring the complexity of human life into existence out of two very simple cells, how much easier is it for God to just stay near. Then we proceeded to discuss the signs of his presence: Eucharist, Church, and life itself.
But there are two points that move me almost to tears. 1) I saw the hunger in the eyes of the boys for Jesus and the scriptures. They were just in awe of one simple phrase, “Do not be afraid.” and 2) I saw their awakening to the meaning of “I shall be with you until the end of time.” They saw this through the sacredness of their own conception. I pray that if I made a mark on these boys tonight, it was one of a deeper respect for life.
We need more and better brothers than I to do this work. Kids are watching and waiting.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF