Blessings and Miracles

     Wednesday afternoon I had the honor of speaking at the Fred M Rogers Center on the campus of  Saint Vincent College in the Continuing Lecture Series on Aging and Spirituality.  Hosted by Benedictine Father Vernon Holtz and Dr. Mary Beth Spore, a Dean and faculty member of the college, there were approximately fifty people from the area that were in attendance.  The lecture series is an ongoing effort to provide for those of a certain age through various speakers and the forum for interaction.  It was a great experience.

     After a gracious introduction by Father Vernon, who was on the faculty of Saint Vincent Prep School when I attended in the early sixty's (I said that one of the miracles we can acknowledge is that Father Vernon looks much like he did fifty years ago).  I spoke of the previous Sunday's first reading from Genesis where God established a covenant with Abram (Abraham).  In that covenant, the Lord promises to bless Abram and his descendants and to allow them to be a blessing for the nations of the earth.  As his children, we are recipients of that pledge.   The blessings come in many ways, and they lead to the miracles of life.

     Like the young tailor in "Fiddler on the Roof" in "Wonder of Wonders", we easily acknowledge the dynamic miracles that God has brought about in history, but also are wise enough to recognize that the grace He gives, so that we can be all that we are called to be, is a miracle.  As Mottel the tailor says: "from this worthless lump of clay, God has made a man today".

     The discussion was inspiring, as many spoke of the miracles that they have experienced and the blessings of their lives.  I am very grateful to Mary Beth and Father Vernon for this opportunity.

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     And speaking of miracles, there were no fatalities or even serious injuries as a result of the tornado that ripped through Hempfield Township in Westmoreland County late Wednesday afternoon.  Our hearts go out and our thoughts are with those who suffered so much destruction of home and property.   I have friends and former parishioners from the Church of Saint Paul that live in Fort Allen, and the home of one of our families from Queen of Angels School was badly damaged.   They have our prayers.