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June 5, 2017On Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church, we gathered to be nourished and empowered before being sent forth to witness to the powerful life-giving message of Jesus -- the message of mercy, love, and forgiveness. And to underscore this, John’s Gospel for this weekend’s Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity promises the ultimate reward for our discipleship, “that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16b). But what do we do when we are so devastated by life-changing events that challenge our ability to breath, much less evangelize others in God’s love for them?
When our daughter, Megan, lost her battle with mental illness, we were left feeling like every part of our existence was scrambled. What would we do next? How would we continue on with our normal life? Would there ever be a “new normal,” what would it look like, and when would it happen? Even the simplest of decisions were excruciatingly difficult. These were the challenges we faced, challenges faced by everyone else who experiences the sudden loss of a loved one.
But in remembering the Gospel of Matthew from Megan’s funeral, we cling to every word: “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). It became clear that our life together was forever changed, but with that simple gospel message, we brought all our burdens to the Lord in prayer. Hence, Meg’s Gift was founded with the intent of keeping Megan’s spirit alive by emulating her caring way of leaving a loving and memorable impression with everyone she met. We aim to positively impact mental health care in the Rochester community through financial support, education, and advocacy.
To that end, for 2017 we will be focusing on the mental health needs of children. Meg’s Gift will sponsor a presentation by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Talk Saves Lives. The event is open to all youth and adults this Sunday June 11 th following the 5:00 PM Mass at St. Joseph Church. Pizza will be served and the evening will conclude with prayer.
We are Church -- a gathering of people, immersed in the waters of Baptism, sent to open doors that are shut, to let out failure and despair, and let in Hope, and Good News. And the ultimate reward for our discipleship is the promise of eternal life. It is a formidable job we undertake, but we are not alone. As church, we have the Holy Spirit. To use the Mexican poet Amado Nervo’s words: “Alone we are only an ant hill -- but [together] in the Spirit, we are a mountain.” Thanks be to God!
Deacon Ray & Kathy Garbach
