Five Ways – May 21

May 10, 2021

The Oblate pastor of neighboring St. William’s Church, Tewksbury, MA, had this story in his bulletin for May 9, Mother’s Day: A mother and a father, who had been married to one another for 45 years, were living in California. They had a son who lived in New York and a daughter who lived in Chicago. It was the day before Mother’s Day, and the father called his son and told him: “I have bad news for you. After 45 years of misery, your mother and I are calling it quits. We are getting a divorce.” The son went ballistic. He was very upset. He tried to tell his father they could not do that. He called his sister and both decided to fly to California to talk to their parents and straighten them out. They called their parents and told them they would be in California the next day. The father hung up the phone and turned to his wife and said “Honey, this year the kids will be home for Mother’s Day and the good news is they are paying their own way.”

Members of the Five Ways Fellowship, this story appeals to me because Jesus told us to be as wise as serpents and as simple as doves, when it comes to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Can we apply the cunning of the father and mother above to our initiative in telling people about Jesus Christ and His Pilgrim People, the Church?

As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven on either this coming Thursday or Sunday, depending on the custom of our diocese, may we remember that Catholics and
many other Christians teach both the real presence of Jesus and the real absence. Jesus is really present in the Holy Scriptures, the Eucharist, and our neighbor. But the Ascension really happened, and Jesus is not present physically with us. The Holy Spirit is present among us to make us hunger for the glorious return of Jesus. The Charismatic Movement, which occurred so suddenly in Christian Churches in 1967, is a reminder of the importance of the Holy Spirit, who both sustains each Christian in our faith, and helps us share that faith with others.

The Mary and Unity page on the MUD website (www.harrywinter.org) continues to attract attention. During May, Mary’s month, let us remember that her only purpose is to bring people to her Son. Our superior general, Louie Lougen, arrived safely back in Rome on May 3. Many, many thanks for your prayers for him during his 7-month stay in the USA and his successful diverticulitis operation.

On May 21, the feast of our founder, the great missionary St. Eugene de Mazenod, Father Louie will be sending a letter to all the Oblate Family. I hope to share it with you.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Harry Winter, O.M.I.