One morning, while
praying before Mass, I remembered a priest had suggested that we should pray every day that we might be an instrument to
lead someone closer to Christ. That morning, I asked God to use me that day to bring someone– anyone, I wasn’t picky– closer to his Son, Jesus. After Mass ended, the little Vietnamese lady seated next to me
leaned over and asked if I would help her son.
praying before Mass, I remembered a priest had suggested that we should pray every day that we might be an instrument to
lead someone closer to Christ. That morning, I asked God to use me that day to bring someone– anyone, I wasn’t picky– closer to his Son, Jesus. After Mass ended, the little Vietnamese lady seated next to me
leaned over and asked if I would help her son.
With great anguish, this mother told me that
her son had been away from the Church for nearly twenty years. She asked if I would invite him to Mass. It’s always surprising how quickly the Lord answers our prayers when it’s something He wants done. The mother added a special request—to not let her son know that his mama had sent me.
It would embarrass him and
her son had been away from the Church for nearly twenty years. She asked if I would invite him to Mass. It’s always surprising how quickly the Lord answers our prayers when it’s something He wants done. The mother added a special request—to not let her son know that his mama had sent me.
It would embarrass him and
perhaps make him angry.
When I asked where to meet her
son, she said, “He works in a nail store.” She meant that her son worked at a
women’s manicure salon. His name was Jimmy. I went home, picked up some Catholic leaflets, then drove to the nail salon. Walking through the door, I spotted Jimmy immediately. I was a little nervous, but said, “Somebody who loves you, God Himself, and I want to invite you back to the Catholic Church.”
son, she said, “He works in a nail store.” She meant that her son worked at a
women’s manicure salon. His name was Jimmy. I went home, picked up some Catholic leaflets, then drove to the nail salon. Walking through the door, I spotted Jimmy immediately. I was a little nervous, but said, “Somebody who loves you, God Himself, and I want to invite you back to the Catholic Church.”
What followed was silence,
absolute silence for what seemed to me to be an eternity. Finally Jimmy said,
“Well, it’s nice of you to invite me, but I don’t need church because I find
God in nature. I’m a professional fisherman, and I fish nearly every day and I
feel close to God when I’m outdoors.”
absolute silence for what seemed to me to be an eternity. Finally Jimmy said,
“Well, it’s nice of you to invite me, but I don’t need church because I find
God in nature. I’m a professional fisherman, and I fish nearly every day and I
feel close to God when I’m outdoors.”
Friendship Ensues
Not very eloquently, I agreed that we
certainly can find God in nature, since God created nature. But, I went on to say, Jesus gave us a Church so that we could help each other get to Heaven. With the world being so complex, and life so difficult, it’s important for us to stick together as a Catholic family. Furthermore, it had always been Jesus’ desire that we should receive the sacraments like Communion and Reconciliation frequently to help us on our journey.
certainly can find God in nature, since God created nature. But, I went on to say, Jesus gave us a Church so that we could help each other get to Heaven. With the world being so complex, and life so difficult, it’s important for us to stick together as a Catholic family. Furthermore, it had always been Jesus’ desire that we should receive the sacraments like Communion and Reconciliation frequently to help us on our journey.
When we said our good-byes, I wasn’t sure if
I had helped or not. From time to time I dropped in to talk with
Jimmy, and we developed a friendship. Twice I invited him to Mass, but he never showed up. Nonetheless, I tried to be optimistic.
I had helped or not. From time to time I dropped in to talk with
Jimmy, and we developed a friendship. Twice I invited him to Mass, but he never showed up. Nonetheless, I tried to be optimistic.
Then, one Sunday morning, Jimmy called to saythat he would join me at Mass. Given his track record, I was not optimistic, but this time he did show up. “Everything’s changed,” he told me. “I went fishing like I always do on Sunday morning, but this time I fished a crucifix out of the water. Do you think it was a sign?” I was both dumbfounded and elated, “God didn’t just give you a cross,” I said, “He gave you a Roman Catholic crucifix to show you which Church to come home to.”
Then he asked, “Where is the box?” It took me
a minute to realize Jimmy wanted to go to confession. Leading him to the sacristy where the
priest was vesting for Mass, I introduced Jimmy.
The priest led him to a side chapel where he heard his confession before going to the altar to say Mass. That morning, the prayers of a Vietnamese mother were heard—her son
returned to the Church and the sacraments after being away for twenty years.
a minute to realize Jimmy wanted to go to confession. Leading him to the sacristy where the
priest was vesting for Mass, I introduced Jimmy.
The priest led him to a side chapel where he heard his confession before going to the altar to say Mass. That morning, the prayers of a Vietnamese mother were heard—her son
returned to the Church and the sacraments after being away for twenty years.
The Rest of the Story
We stayed in touch. When Jimmy got married,
Tricia and I were invited
Tricia and I were invited
to the wedding Mass. When he was back from his honeymoon, he stopped by our
house to show us the wedding photos. While Tricia and our girls were looking at the pictures, Jimmy pulled me aside into the kitchen to say, “Tom,
I have something to share with you that you don’t know. My mom and I are so grateful that you invited me back to church.”
house to show us the wedding photos. While Tricia and our girls were looking at the pictures, Jimmy pulled me aside into the kitchen to say, “Tom,
I have something to share with you that you don’t know. My mom and I are so grateful that you invited me back to church.”
I replied, “You’re welcome, it’s no big
deal.” Jimmy corrected me, saying, “Oh yes it is a big deal, and
you don’t know the whole story. I was in the Chinese mafia in Los Angeles, and
got arrested for major felony crimes against society. I went to Leavenworth
Federal Penitentiary, and served my sentence for the last 15 years.”
deal.” Jimmy corrected me, saying, “Oh yes it is a big deal, and
you don’t know the whole story. I was in the Chinese mafia in Los Angeles, and
got arrested for major felony crimes against society. I went to Leavenworth
Federal Penitentiary, and served my sentence for the last 15 years.”
Upon hearing that, I turned ashen white, and felt like all the blood rushed out of my body. I thought to myself, “Thank God I didn’t know about this ahead of time! I probably would have chickened out!”
Then Jimmy said, “I want to tell you,
I’m so grateful, because in prison I almost committed suicide, and there were a lot of other issues. I want you to know that in prison, the inmates had time to talk about Jesus and share their faith. But now that I’m out, everybody’s too
busy,
I’m so grateful, because in prison I almost committed suicide, and there were a lot of other issues. I want you to know that in prison, the inmates had time to talk about Jesus and share their faith. But now that I’m out, everybody’s too
busy,
nobody takes the time to talk about God with other people. Thank you
for taking the time to invite me back. That changed my life.”
for taking the time to invite me back. That changed my life.”
 |
| Tom Peterson |
Jimmy’s comments hit my heart, and I
realized later that there are
and I need to pray for them and help these Catholics come home. We cannot
be afraid to do so, as our fear of failure or fear of offending others is impeding
Christ’s mission for the salvation of souls.
The Good Shepherd reminds usthat the upside of one soul responding positively and coming home to Jesus and
His Church far outweighs the downside of a few people who may reject our faith-sharing overture. Don’t be shy about asking someone if
they would like to return to the faith. Don’t be afraid to seek out the lost sheep.
Trust that Our Lord is already knocking on the door of their heart—your
invitation may be the final push that leads them to opening the door to let
Christ in.
Tom Peterson is Founder and
President of Catholics Come Home
President of Catholics Come Home
(www.CatholicsComeHome.org)
and Virtue Media (VirtueMedia.org).
and Virtue Media (VirtueMedia.org).
More can be found in his
Random House book, “Catholics Come Home” God’s
Random House book, “Catholics Come Home” God’s
Extraordinary
Plan for your life.
_________________________________________________________________________
Monday’s on this blog are being dedicated to the uplifting and mystical connections with God. Please consider sharing you own story.
Plan for your life.
_________________________________________________________________________
Monday’s on this blog are being dedicated to the uplifting and mystical connections with God. Please consider sharing you own story.
