Thank you Grandpa! I heard these words the other day outside of Lucky’s as I was walking to my car. A younger man than I, had asked me if I could spare a few dollars. I hadn’t any cash in my wallet, but I thought I may have in the car door pocket. I apologized and said if he would wait I would check if I had any in my car. I loaded my groceries in the trunk, checked the door and low and behold there were three one dollar bills. I gathered them into my hands and then walk back to him, gave him the few dollars and said “God bless” to which he replied, “Thank you Grandpa.”
I walked away stunned. I didn’t know what to think. And certainly, in all my life, no one…and I mean no one…had ever said those three words to me. Being called “Father” after I was ordained to the priesthood was a challenge to get used too and now I was called “Grandpa.”

When I arrived home a few minutes later, I was still rolling these words around in my mind. In the bathroom, I looked in the mirror, it was there that I realized…I looked like a grandpa, an old man with grey whiskers, a receding hairline and yes a few extra pounds around the waist. And it was there that the blessing of these words took hold and the acceptance of God’s blessing of growing older was known in the troubled heart.

In a recent conversation with a true grandparent, I was told for the 100th time about how wonderful grandchildren were and how as grandparents it was much easier to unconditionally love them than their own children. Distance, time and wisdom helps us to understand the beauty of life and how each life is so very precious in the eyes of God…and especially in the little ones that surround us.

Since that morning when I was given thanks as a “grandpa” I have begun to wonder about this gift.

I truly enjoy being a Father, a pastor and shepherd to God’s holy people. I take this calling and vocation very seriously and find peace in the blessings, the sorrows, the joys and the sadness which my daily ministry challenges me to embrace. I can see more clearly how I am also called to be a grandfather; a little softer, gentler and accepting in sharing the unconditional love I am to offer through God’s loving and compassionate grace.
I get to experience this through my many relationships but in a special way in the relationship I have with the Sisters of the Holy Names (SNJM) as we celebrate Mass together. When I was pastor of St. Lucy I would go to celebrate with them in their little chapel once a month. Being surrounded by this group of wonderful and blessed women, I can now begin to see how they become the grandmothers needed in our Church and how in my weekly celebrations with the Eucharistic Missionaries of the Most Holy Trinity (MEEST) I also know this unconditional love.

As Pope, Francis, reminds us, “Very often, it is grandparents, who, ensure that the most important values are passed down to their grandchildren,… Their words, their affection, or simply their presence help children to realize that history did not begin with them, that they are now part of an age–old pilgrimage and that they need to respect all that came before them.” (#194 Amoris Laetitia)
I love this quote because if we live this quote! Live it in joy and love…respect, honor and blessing…even in a story heard so many times…it is the story of our faith, our hope and our love of God and neighbor. It is hearing the words spoken…”thank you grandpa!”.

God bless
Fr. Mark