Mar 18 2008
Remember Who Is Here
For a time I worked at the parking garage behind the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston. One night I was working collecting fees from cars as they came into the garage, and this brand-new big Mercedes Benz came rolling to a stop next to me and the window dropped down. Staring at me was one of the greatest Boston Celtic basketball players of all time.
Now, I must explain, that as a kid in the 80’s, I was a fanatical Celtics fan, and I watched this player in so many games on TV. The Celtics players from the championship teams in the 80’s were heroes to me. So, you can imagine how stunned I was. I didn’t know what to say. I was discombobulated. I told him not to worry about the fee. I pointed him to the prime parking space that we reserved for “special” customers. I was just so amazed and excited to be in his presence.
I couldn’t wait to tell my family and friends about it. One of my friends asked, “What did he say?” I said, “Not much. Just, ‘Thanks, man.’ Come to think of it,” I said, “he basically ignored me. Not only that, he got in free, he got the best space – and now that I think of it, he didn’t tip me at all! He didn’t offer to sign anything, not even a polite word or conversation!” I was so starstruck at the time, I didn’t notice anything else. He was there! It was him!
You see, I was so in awe of his presence, I forgot about myself and what I got out of it. His presence was enough.
When Mary followed Jesus into the cold, forbidding cave at Bethlehem, there was nothing in it for her but His Presence. When she followed Him all the way to Calvary, there was nothing in it for her but His Presence. And so, she was with God in His greatest hours, in the greatest moments in human history.
The very last words of Matthew’s Gospel are a promise: “And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” (Mt 28:20) When we really remember just Who is here with us in the Blessed Sacrament, then His Presence is enough. And we too will be with God in His greatest hours, in the greatest moments of our time.
