From the Pulpit: Lord, if You had been here
On Saturday, July 25th, I had the opportunity to celebrate a beautiful wedding at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls for a couple who had roots at Risen Savior Catholic Church in Brandon. Following this beautiful wedding Mass, I returned to Brandon to begin the Sunday celebration with our evening Mass at Risen Savior Parish. Going home after greeting the families in the parking lot, it seemed like just another Saturday night in the life of a priest until I heard about the storm warnings. We South Dakotans get so used to storm warnings that they can often go unnoticed, even with cell phone and television alarms blaring. Who would have expected these storms would come directly through our beautiful town, destroying trees, damaging homes and threatening lives? After the initial storm had passed and I could see from my home that there was significant tree damage, I ventured over to the Church. As I walked the grounds of Risen Savior, the reality of the destruction slowly sunk in. Trees were gone that had been planted the day the first shovel was placed into the ground to build our Church. The front facade of the Church was severely damaged – ripped away, bricks were torn off the north wall of the Church and there were so many other hidden cracks and breaks. In all, Risen Savior lost over 45 full-grown trees that were original to our property. Walking around the neighborhood would sadden anyone in seeing a very distinct line of destruction, especially to family homes.
We hear in the Gospel of John, Chapter 11, how after the death of Jesus’ friend Lazarus, his sister, Martha approaches Jesus and says to Him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” That might be the same feeling we have at times in our lives after a destructive storm, a tragic death of a loved one or because of a health diagnosis which just doesn’t seem fair. “Lord, if you had been here,” Lord, if you loved me you wouldn’t have let this happen. Do you ever feel that way? I had that feeling at sunrise on Sunday morning as I saw with the first light the destruction at my parish and around Brandon. Lord, really? Why? Thoughts of doubt, disappointment and inevitable stress came with the thoughts of all that had been done to make our property beautiful, property that was now changed forever. I had all these thoughts and feelings until I heard the sound of chainsaws in the neighborhood. One person became 10 people, with friends, neighbors and even strangers coming to assist those affected by the storm. The silence of daybreak and the heartbreak was broken with the love of neighbor, the love of Christ. As I walked along the property line a Brandon police officer stopped in the parking lot and walked over to see if I was OK, offering to help in any way he could. Later he returned to let me know that the tree dump would be opened in our cleanup effort. He didn’t need to do that – it was not part of his “job.” But he chose to. My phone began lighting up with texts and phone calls from members of Risen Savior, friends of the greater Brandon area, other Church communities and complete strangers offering to help assist with the cleanup or just offering their prayers and support. Fr. Andy, why did you doubt? Why, because I’m human, I’m fallen and I need you, Lord, more in my life.
Jesus says to Martha, “Your brother will rise…do you believe this?” The Lord says those same words to each of us. The Lord does not want these things to happen, and He does not abandon us when they do. The Lord has always been here and will continue to be. We, my friends, especially in times of disappointment and loss, must trust and believe!
Thank you for the kind gestures of many in our Brandon and Valley Springs communities who came together after this one particular storm. Neighbor helping neighbor, stranger checking on stranger confirms that the Lord is here and will continue to be with us through any storm in life.
