Troubadour
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George + May 2015
Latecomers and Beggars Why was the way back so complicated? Quite simply, I had left the house too late to catch People who know me well my flight from Buffalo to Washknow that I am prone to misadington, D.C. I was left with only ventures when I travel. I have missed flights, been re-routed on one option for my return trip – the bus. Being late often leads to trains, and have been lost for inconveniences and uncomfortalong stretches of time on both ble situations. In my case, it highways and country roads! I had an exceptionally spec- meant exchanging a ninetytacular mishap several years ago. minute flight for a crammed I was living in our local commu- twelve-hour ordeal. It meant fornity in Washington, D.C., at the feiting the place that had been saved for me. time. For reasons that are too Forfeiting my place. Losing complicated to explain here, I had to fly to Buffalo, New York, out. Missing the boat – or in my and then drive to Toronto, Cana- case, the plane. Aren’t we all da, to visit my family instead of afraid of this? Aren’t we all flying directly to my destination. afraid that when the portions have been doled out, nothing will The trip there was uneventful, but the journey home resembled be left for us? This fear plays Dante’s description of purgatory. itself out in many concrete circumstances. It bespeaks the
by Mother M. Maximilia
suspicion that grace is not infinite and that God is not enough. However, is this fear justified? How does God treat latecomers and beggars? He waits for them. He embraces them. He celebrates them. And who of us has not been late? I don’t mean for an event or an appointment, but in love. As His creatures and His children, there is a very real sense in which all of us are latecomers. God loves us first – always. Human love has the character of a response – always. The cry of St. Augustine, “Late have I loved thee!” has the weight of an ontological statement. It speaks the truth of our human condition. And it is a glorious condition because we are awaited by a great love! Do not be afraid!