(The following excerpt is Part IV of a homily delivered by Archbishop Seán Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap., at his Mass of Installation as the sixth Archbishop of Boston, July 30, 2003, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston.)
“When I was a young priest at the Centro Católico in Washington, a Salvadoran refugee came to my office weeping. He handed me a letter to read. It was from his wife berating him for having abandoned her and their eight children. He had come to Washington as the wars raged in his country. He came to send money back for his family. After several months, his wife had not received any of the money he had been sending home, and his family was suffering from hunger and want. He told me how he washed dishes in two restaurants, ate the scraps of food from the dirty dishes rather than spend money on food and walked to work rather than spend money on bus fare. He sent all his earnings to his family each week. I asked if he sent checks or money orders. He said: "I put cash in the envelope and drop it in the blue mail box on the corner." I looked out the window and saw that blue mail box "“ spiffy trash bin, part of the District of Columbia's beautification project. It brought home to me how hard the lot of immigrants is in a strange land. Not knowing the language and customs can cause such a sense of disorientation and alienation.
In the case of the man from El Salvador, his toil was not really futile because it betokened love and selflessness that bound him to his wife and children. But too often people's quest for success in our culture is misguided "“ to have lots of money, be good looking and thin, and to be popular. It is not enough. If this is the measuring stick for success "“ the lock box is just another blue trash bin.
In reflecting on the plight of this campesino, I find a parable for our lives. In great part the man's problems resulted from not knowing the language and the ways of this land. For us believers, the language of faith is prayer. Prayer is a language that allows us to communicate with our heavenly Father. It is a window that allows light into our life. Some people have forgotten that language. Without prayer we become spiritually disoriented, our relationships suffer, we begin to be isolated, alone, confused and often overwhelmed.
In Novo Millenio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II says that it is a mistake to think that most Christians can get along on a superficial prayer life. Especially in today's world which tests our faith "“ such persons become mediocre Christians or Christians at risk. Formation in prayer must become the determining point in every pastoral program. In prayer, we shall discover the primacy of grace and discover that without God we can do nothing. In prayer, we will find the courage to go on, to be faithful, to proclaim the Good News that Our Lord is with us. He is Emanuel. In prayer, we will find the strength to carry out the mission entrusted to us, to walk in humility and love and to practice mercy with all. Saint Ignatius put it so well: We must pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended on us.
If we are a praying people, when we gather at the Eucharist, we will know God's language and be a part of the miracle of self-giving that is the Eucharist. There we will find the strength to make a gift of ourselves to God and to each other. There we shall find the strength to wash one another's feet and to live the great commandment of love.
On Calvary there were but few people, because it takes courage to stand by the Cross. Today we of the Church of Boston stand before the Cross. We are not alone. From the Cross Jesus gave us his mother: "Behold your Mother". We Catholics all have a tender love for Our Lady. With her help we will be faithful disciples and will shall be sure: That those who sow in tears, shall reap rejoicing.
(In the words of Saint Francis we pray) We adore Thee Oh Christ and we bless Thee Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou
Hast redeemed the World.”
