4th Sunday of Advent
By Fr. Victor Feltes
Today, Jesus reminds us that our earthly experience is limited to a specific time. We all think that our time here on earth is unlimited, but it is not. We are given a certain time to accept or reject our requested vocation in life: to love God and neighbor. Let me share with you Deacon Dick’s call and views on a vocation of love and service.
When I was about six or seven years old, my dad and I went to Reetz’s Grocery Store to buy some meat. At that time, the grocery part was run by Lorraine Reetz and her sister Jean Reetz. Jean was not a very smiley person, but she was in charge of checking out the customers. One day, Dad was buying meat at the meat counter, and I heard a yell from the checkout counter. Jean was checking out someone, and when she overfilled the bag, it broke, with all the groceries falling on the ground. I saw that and ran over to Jean to help her repackage the bag that had broken. I saw her give me the biggest smile ever. From that day on, she always put me—who she called “Dickie”—in the front of the line to check out whenever I went to their store. Jean never forgot that event for years to come. She was to me a wingless angel.
Today we find that Mary is confronted by an angel to be the mother of God. We also find Joseph, who finds a person he is in love with and engaged to, is pregnant. Mary had an angel ask for her help. Joseph had another angel tell him she did not betray him. Who do we look to for truth in what God desires of our life? The answer is Jesus and the Body of Christ, His Church. Both Mary and Joseph had faith to believe the unbelievable. Who do we have? The answer is the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ—service people, who I call the “Wingless Angels.”
When I was contemplating becoming a deacon, I did not want to become seen as a “holy roller.” The Dick I had grown up with could not handle that. I told God I would give it a try, but I felt He should give this job to someone more qualified than myself. Well, God gave me mentors. He gave me a wife, a son, and a daughter-in-law who give themselves in service to me and to others. He gave me parents who always put others in front of their own desires. He gave me friends and relatives who always looked out for others, even if it meant sacrificing their time so others could have some good time. He gave me my priest friends who showed me that just because you are holy doesn’t mean there is something not right with you—men who loved their vocation in life and serving God and His children. All were and are “wingless angels.”
When I was considering whether I should go through the program to become a deacon, I sat one Saturday at a bar with my best friend. I told him I was thinking about becoming a deacon and wanted his input on whether I should go on. He looked at me and said, “Go for it!” Another angel without wings. Finally, I looked at the parishioners of St. Paul’s and St. John’s—people who shared much of their life in service to their Church and to the community at large. Although many times they looked tired, they always had a smile on their face when serving God’s children. People who are and were truly “Wingless Angels.” I will close with an email I recently sent to my only granddaughter who began dating. I told her to choose her friends closely and to look to people who look to helping others more than they look to themselves. She answered me with a smiley face with tears on it. Barb asked me what that meant, and I said, “I think she got it!” Another angel without wings? I hope so!
Through the birth of Jesus—a “skin-on Person of God”—He gave us a great gift for Christmas: the angels without wings, people with “skin on,” to help direct our lives and be happy serving others. Food for thought before you celebrate Christmas? Without Mary and Joseph saying “Yes,” there might be no Jesus, no Church, and no Body of Christ. There might be no angels without wings! Jesus invites all children of God to join Him at Mass, and He will provide them with a meal of Himself—food that Fr. Tom called “angel food,” energy food that will put a smile on your face as you serve His children. Finally, Jesus told me to tell you, “Wingless Angel folks,” thanks for saying “Yes” and loving others as He loves us, and that He is preparing a room for you. And for those of you who are being called to become “Wingless Angels,” and who—like this deacon—questioned the wisdom of Jesus in calling you into the College of Saints, Jesus responds with a grin on His face and tells you: “Be still and know that I Am!”
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