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Christianity in Action

Sr. Esther Calderon, OP, gave the following talk at a retreat held at a prison where she ministers.

My talk today is Christianity in Action. In other words if I am going to call myself a Christian WHAT makes me different from those who don't consider themselves Christian? I don't know if some of you are old enough to remember when the initials WWJD were very popular? Can someone tell me what that means? Any one? 

So before I go on I would like to read one of my favorite Scripture readings which can be found in both the Old Testament (Isaiah 61:1-4) and New Testament Luke: (4:16-21) Where Jesus himself has told us what he was sent to do... what his mission was to be.

Luke 4: 16-21 reads "Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:  

The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken.
To proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, Recover the sight of the blind; set the oppressed free, to proclaim a year of grace ordained by the Lord.

He then rolled the Scroll, gave it to the assistant and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him, then he began to speak to them. "This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen."

But Jesus did not stay sitting down or at the synagogue or in a rectory 

This was Jesus' mission and as a follower of Jesus Christ this is my mission, and this is your mission. How many of you have been baptized? So, when you were baptized, like Jesus, you also were anointed to go out and proclaim the good news, not only in words but in action. As we read further in all the gospels, we learn that Jesus did not stay sitting down in the synagogue or in a rectory, or reading in his bedroom. In every situation he encountered, he showed us WWJD - what would Jesus do in my situation?

For me, as a Religious sister, a nurse, and a prison minister, this Scripture passage speaks to me very strongly and has always inspired me to go out and do the same in following Christ. Whether it is cutting to a wealthy lady's toenails who lives at a  Colonial Mansion in South Louisiana or caring for a sick child with pneumonia at a migrant camp in Caldwell, Idaho; caring for an aids patient in Pueblo, Colorado when others were afraid; daily visits to a blind lady as she refused to leave her house in South Tucson or washing the feet of migrants who were picked up in the desert by immigration and dropped off at Nogales or just listening to the stories of people displaced due to the violence in their own country.

What's most amazing is that Jesus, as we read in the Gospels, did not go out looking for something to do, he was either going out for a hike with his friends, to the desert to pray, fishing at the sea of Gallelli ... but on the way he encountered people who were oppressed and captive by the action of others or of their own making; people in need of physical or spiritual healing. Jesus did not say "Sorry, I'll see when I get back." He acted on the spot.  

We also don't have to look for situations to put our Christianity into Action.... in my 32 years of ministry here at Wilmot at one time or another, I have been to every unit in this Complex so I have had the opportunity to have seen many acts of kindness and compassion in action: Michael pushing Barry's wheelchair so he could get to Catholic Service every Sunday and Tuesday: Alex sharing his sandwich with Rene', a new arrival who had forgotten to get his own sandwich and chips; Jason asking Security permission if all of us ministers could write a note for one of his friends who had voluntarily asked to be placed in isolation. It was granted and so the Security Officer stood outside the room until each one of us wrote a note and then the officer took it to deliver it.  Scott praying for/with someone who had a headache. Lorenzo, inviting others to come to services and asking if I could bring a guitar so he could bring a little joy to religious services. Here at this unit,I have seen how you help Fr. Knapp get ready for Mass and make sure everybody has come before you close the door.

These things may seem small, but you can't imagine how you can influence others who see you perform these acts of kindness. As I have observed I can see others doing the same thing. The first unit I went to when I started in this ministry was Santa Rita Unit. I had 40 men attending Scripture services, and we were studying the Parables of Jesus. One day I asked the guys to turn to the person on their left and say "I see the face of Jesus."

When we gathered back I asked, "How did you feel when that was said to you?" Some said "I was embarrassed," or "It felt good, or "Strange to hear," but one guy said "I am so upset at you for doing that as I didn't let anyone say it to me nor did I say it to anybody because none of us here are worthy of that."

I didn't respond - I just went on to the next person. But at the end of the service, as they were leaving,  I put my hand on his shoulder and said "I am sorry if I hurt you." He just shrugged and left.

I thought I'd never see him again, but to my surprise, he kept coming and just sat in the back but never shared, until one day he raised his hand. I thought "What did I do now?"

He said "Sister, remember when you told us to see the face of Jesus in each other? Well since I've been coming to your class I have seen how my brothers treat each other and how they act out in the yard. So I can really say I see the face of Jesus in each one of them." Everybody applauded, and I broke all rules and hugged him.

So I say to each one of you, as Jesus would say to his disciples  "Go out and do the same." You have been anointed, be the face of Jesus Christ, and put Christianity into Action!!  

10 thoughts on “Christianity in Action

  1. What a profound miracle you brought about, dear Esther! Brought tears to my eyes! Bless you and your ministry!

  2. Thank you, Sister Esther. I will be reading and discussing your blog with my confirmation class tonight.
    Kevin Cahalan

  3. What a powerful and moving message, Esther! It brought a lump to my throat, especially the part about the guy struggling with “seeing the face of Jesus in others”. Thank you for sharing this!
    Peace!
    Pat

  4. Esther your powerful testimony to the imprisoned reflects the heart of Christ…profound love for all. Thank you for sharing this experience. Cathryn Wright OPA

  5. Thank you Esther for your loving, compassionate and listening presence to the prisoners. I, too, wish I could visit prisoners. Yet, I am not well and now I live in Mohun. It has been quite a big transition for me. Yet, from the moment I left the Columbus Hospital after a “brain bleed” I knew this was where God was inviting me to live. I still do what I can for the end of the Death Penalty and emails to support prisoners.
    I am so delighted to read what you are doing with the prisoners and will keep you in my prayer. I hope we will include a prayer petition in all our houses to periodically pray for the end of Executions and discover new ways of healing through catholic mobilization for healing of prisoner and families of the victime in the Circle Way. I wish I were younger and able to do this as it is so profound to see God’s grace working both for the prisoner and the families of victims sharing openly and honestly about their experience and finding new life from such encounters.
    So let us prayer together and join others for this new healing for prisoners. Thank you so much Esther for your witness in this ministry. Love and prayer, Brigid

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