In celebration of this feast day, Terry and I plan to attend Mass this evening at St. Bernard’s Convent in North York as we did last year. Father Ian Riswick, one of my former students, is the chaplain there and it would be nice to see him again. It might also be time for a rescue operation. Last year, we brought my statue of Jean de Brebeuf, a gift from the faculty at the school, to grace the St. Bernard altar during the Mass. Somehow, it got left behind but I soon realized Jean was doing a lot more good on an altar in a busy chapel than on our lonely night table.
Since my illness, I’ve drawn strength from many quarters: from family, from friends, from acquaintances who are fighting cancer and from Jacques Carron who succumbed to this deadly disease less than three months ago.
However, my true inspiration in coping with my internal time bomb comes from courageous people like Jean de Brebeuf and his companions who looked suffering and death in the face without flinching.
Of course, the reason for their courage was their steadfast belief in God and their zeal to preach the good news.
I know I’m not made of the same stuff as these giants but they do help me to appreciate each day as a gift, to be trusting about the future, to bear suffering without complaint and to make time for others.
I realize that Mike 2.0 been called to go far beyond the mantra of I’m OK, You’re OK.
I’ve also learned that there is no such thing as coincidence. My cancer happened for a reason and every day that reason is becoming clearer to me.
Happy feast day, Jean de Brebeuf and companions, and thank you for being a special part of my life.
Greater love has no one than this:
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13
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