A few weeks ago a Jesuit, Fr Frans van der Lugt who spent most of his life in Syria was brutally murdered there at the age of 75. Although he had a chance to get out of the place during the UN-negotiated ceasefire, he decided to stay. I read that he had two dozen of ill and injured people in his little hospital and for their sake he stayed there. However his quiet and prayerful presence seemed to be too dangerous to some extremists who murdered Fr Frans. Why did he stay? He couldn’t change the situation. But what he said in the days leading to his death can give us some insight into his life and priestly ministry: “I try to help them not by analysing their problems, as the problems are obvious and there is no solution for them here. I listen to them and give them as much food as I can.” He didn’t have much food as he lived every day on some olives he would consume in the morning and broth fortified with weeds picked off the streets as his evening meal. To those who had lost their minds and found themselves shunned he offered shelter.
My Dear Sisters and Brothers!
I have told you about Fr Frans because in his quite but loving life and in his death as well, I can see what Jesus was telling in the Gospel this Sunday, the Gospel which is filled with references about his Father. 12 times Our Blessed Lord spoke about his Father. The priest murdered in Syria not only contemplated this message every day but he committed his life to show people that God is their caring Father. Some people could ask: “Where was God when so many people were killed in Syria.” My answer would be: “He was in the soul and heart of Fr Frans who didn’t run away but stayed to be with those who couldn’t run away.” Some people could say: “Where was God when Fr Frans was murdered?” My answer would be: “He was so deeply in the heart and soul of the priest that his heart and soul were overflowing with Father’s love so much that he chose to stay and by his quiet and prayerful presence was sharing with the afflicted Father’s love.”
Some time ago a person said to me that she preferred the previous translation of the Bible where Jesus says that there are many mansions prepared for us. Apparently it sounds flashier then what we have in the Jerusalem Bible read in our churches these days, that there are many rooms prepared for us. Well, Jesus isn’t a real estate agent trying to sell us a place but he is the Son of the Father who calls us his children too. The beauty of heaven is not in the splendour mansions but it is because heaven is all about God, the Trinity, who wants us to be included in this community of Divine Persons.
That’s why Jesus spoke so much about his Father. Jesus was giving us a hint why he did so many things for us: because the love of his Father was filling him and this same love was overflowing so much that it has reached us.
The Holy Spirit promised by the Lord directs this love into our hearts like he did for Fr Frans. The priest was sure that he was loved by the heavenly Father and his life wasn’t about selfish search for happiness but his life was about being for others, loving them with the love of the Heavenly Father.
Syria may be such a horrifying place to live at the moment but because of Fr Frans and similar people no one can say that God has abandoned Syrians. He is there through the loving and prayerful presence of some of his children who cannot keep God’s love to themselves and let it flow from their big hearts onto others.
Do we need a better commercial to convince us that it is worth investing our time, prayers and efforts into believing in what the Lord Jesus has revealed us about heaven and his Father?
My Dear Sisters and Brothers!
I have told you about Fr Frans because in his quite but loving life and in his death as well, I can see what Jesus was telling in the Gospel this Sunday, the Gospel which is filled with references about his Father. 12 times Our Blessed Lord spoke about his Father. The priest murdered in Syria not only contemplated this message every day but he committed his life to show people that God is their caring Father. Some people could ask: “Where was God when so many people were killed in Syria.” My answer would be: “He was in the soul and heart of Fr Frans who didn’t run away but stayed to be with those who couldn’t run away.” Some people could say: “Where was God when Fr Frans was murdered?” My answer would be: “He was so deeply in the heart and soul of the priest that his heart and soul were overflowing with Father’s love so much that he chose to stay and by his quiet and prayerful presence was sharing with the afflicted Father’s love.”
Some time ago a person said to me that she preferred the previous translation of the Bible where Jesus says that there are many mansions prepared for us. Apparently it sounds flashier then what we have in the Jerusalem Bible read in our churches these days, that there are many rooms prepared for us. Well, Jesus isn’t a real estate agent trying to sell us a place but he is the Son of the Father who calls us his children too. The beauty of heaven is not in the splendour mansions but it is because heaven is all about God, the Trinity, who wants us to be included in this community of Divine Persons.
That’s why Jesus spoke so much about his Father. Jesus was giving us a hint why he did so many things for us: because the love of his Father was filling him and this same love was overflowing so much that it has reached us.
The Holy Spirit promised by the Lord directs this love into our hearts like he did for Fr Frans. The priest was sure that he was loved by the heavenly Father and his life wasn’t about selfish search for happiness but his life was about being for others, loving them with the love of the Heavenly Father.
Syria may be such a horrifying place to live at the moment but because of Fr Frans and similar people no one can say that God has abandoned Syrians. He is there through the loving and prayerful presence of some of his children who cannot keep God’s love to themselves and let it flow from their big hearts onto others.
Do we need a better commercial to convince us that it is worth investing our time, prayers and efforts into believing in what the Lord Jesus has revealed us about heaven and his Father?
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