June 18, 2010
The Second Half
Finding the answer
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
“But, who do you say that I am?” This simple question that St. Luke recounts Jesus asking his disciples goes well beyond a certain time and place some 2000 years ago. I am convinced this same question is directed to each of us and not just one time but over and over again in the course our lives.
As a second grader coming to First Communion I knew that Jesus was very special, that he loved me and would always be with me. He was the best of all that I experienced in my parents.
As a fourth grader, kneeling before the Bishop and feeling oil being smeared on my forehead, I knew that Jesus was a powerful leader, a general who would give me the strength that I needed to be one of his soldiers.
As a ninth grader entering St. Joseph’s Seminary I knew that Jesus was a Master Teacher who was calling me on a lifelong adventure to become one of His chosen ones. At that time I had little understanding of what it meant to be called, or how that call would unfold in my life. A few years later, as a 20 year old, lost and slipping away in a sea of philosophy books, I was caught up in my own questions. Who am I? Why am I here? I was oblivious to Jesus’ question, “But, who do you say that I am?” I returned home looking as much for myself as for Christ who now seemed silent and distant.
At 22, I turned to Jesus to be my guide as I travelled to a small village in West Africa to teach school. On Sundays I would catch a ride to the next town to go to Mass to thank my guide for being there for me. I soon discovered that my guide had plans for me that would change my life forever. My friend Ann and I fell in love and a year later we returned home to America as husband and wife.
Jesus is love and love changed everything. Love brought children and grandchildren into our lives to teach us how to love others. Love followed us into the depths of emotions, through uncertainty, loss, grief, fear and depression as well as joy, happiness, closeness, certainty and overwhelming gratitude. Christ became the strength that held us together through hard times. He was the one who had brought us together and, now, together we were beginning to discover the answer to his question.
Today, in the second half of life, we look back and we can see how blessed we have been by our best friend, Jesus. He is so patient and forgiving. We see his presence all around us in flowers, birds, laughter of little children and in the eyes of the elderly. Not a day goes by that we don’t talk to him.
Who do we say Jesus is? After all these years we still have the feeling we are only just beginning to discover the answer to this question. Above all else, we hope our children and grandchildren will want to know Christ because they see in us a reflection of his love.
Deacon Jim and Ann Cavera are former residents of Evansville; their award-winning column is a regular feature of the Message. Contact them at www.catholicseniorspirit.com.