Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ephesians 2:12-22; Luke 12:35-38)
An article in the newspaper caught Sr. Gerard Fernandes’
eye. The report told of a criminal court
assigning the death penalty to three Satanists who kidnapped and killed two
children. Sr. Gerard recognized one of
the three as a former student, Tan Mooy Choo.
She went to the prison to meet with Mooy Choo, but the criminal refused
to meet with her, not just once but many times.
Finally, after six months the prisoner consented to a meeting. The first question Mooy Choo asked her
visitor was, “How can you still love me after I have done such a cruel thing?” Sr.
Gerard responded by saying how Jesus has mercy toward all sinners. Gradually Mooy Choo repented and received the
sacraments. The night before her
execution, she told Sr. Gerard: “Tomorrow morning I will see the face of my
God. When I get there, the first thing I
will talk about will be you, Sister.”
As the Letter to the Ephesians tells us today, Christ is our
peace. He brings together those who are
far off and those who are near. As we
face those who are distant from us through an offense or through prejudice, we can
turn to him for help. He is the olive
branch, the white flag of truce, and the sacrament of reconciliation who brings
us peace with the Father and with one another.
