March 26th, Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

Jeremiah 20: 10-13, Psalm 18: 2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7, John 10: 31-42

In today’s reading from Psalms we are reminded that God is our rock and fortress. There have been many times when I have turned to God, but the most moments followed the birth of our son.

Liam was born a healthy baby and after so many challenging years, we were blessed with a daughter and son. But when Liam was brought into my hospital room the next morning, he made a strange movement with his right arm. At the time I knew it was odd but couldn’t identify it. His pediatrician arrived a few hours later to examine him. These seizures, as it turned out, were manifestations of a gestational stroke. Liam was rushed to the NICU where he remained for two and a half weeks. Liam was heavily sedated, feeding only through a tube. I spent many hours praying to God for strength and wisdom.

I was stricken with grief and anxiety knowing I’d be leaving Liam behind upon my release. I wondered why, at our request, our parish priest in Glenview, hadn’t come to pray with us. After all, he knew us. As I waited for the wheelchair to escort me to the car, thick tears filled my eyes, when suddenly in walked one of God’s living rocks, Fr. Bob McGlaughlin. Fr. Mac had married us five years earlier at Holy Name Cathedral.

God is always our rock and fortress; always present in our most difficult times. But often, God will send a human agent to physically act as our rock and fortress when we are most in need. Liam was very weak when we finally brought him home, but we knew we could depend on God, and his human delegates to give Liam the perseverance and determination required to heal.

Are you ready, willing and able to be a human rock and fortress for another when your Heavenly Father makes a request of you?

Margaret Ariens Denten, mother of Molly and Liam.