Amazing Grace
Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from March 04, 2007
"Becoming fully awake, they saw his glory." Luke 9:32
"I was blind, but now I see." Amazing grace comes to us in peak moments. There are mountain top experiences when we are transfigured. Psychologists speak of, "Ah, ha!" awakenings. It may have been your wedding day or some more ordinary occasion that brought you a sense of God's closeness.
I thought for myself about yesterday. Saturdays are busy days. Many people are off work. I had not had a moment to myself from 7 in the morning till 7 pm and I felt exhausted. I had the evening free. I wondered if I should call my brother and go by and relax. I had half-dialed when I said to myself, "I have had enough of other people for one day." So I took off my Roman collar and thought of going down on my own to Ballston where the movie Amazing Grace was playing. I got as far as the front door of the rectory when a woman accosted me, "Are you a priest?" Admitting I was, she exclaimed, "I want to talk to you." As kindly as I could, not very, I indicated to her that I had another commitment, without clarifying that the appointment was with myself. She proceeded to lecture me at some length and with intensity on the failure of the clergy to listen to her and on their preference for the rich and the famous. I offered my phone number for the following week.
The movie recounted the poignant story of a sea captain, John Newton, who had transported 20,000 slaves from Africa to Haiti and the Isles, in the filthiest conditions. It told of his conversion, his entry into the pastorate, his composition of the hymn "Amazing Grace", and his friendship with William Wilberforce, who succeeded in terminating the slave trade. I was a little distracted from the portrayal of the remorse the sea captain by the recurring memory of the woman I had left unattended at St. Charles. While I was thrilled by this story of deliverance as much as I was by the reference to Moses and the exodus in the Sunday Gospel, I wondered if I walked the walk. Could this be my "Ah, ha!" experience?
When I returned to the parish, there she was at the door! I was given a second chance. I sat and listened for half an hour to her tale of woe; the Egypts in her story, and offered some suggestions. For my time, I received a thank you, an amazing grace..
Once in a while we all need a voice or a whisper out of the cloud that calls us, "This is my beloved son, listen to him." Luke 9:35
