Our parish office received a phone call this week that saddened me.

A relative of a parishioner called to voice concern that his brother had not received weekly Holy Communion, even though the parish promised to bring it to him.

The homebound parishioner is a person whom I take Holy Communion to weekly. I do not believe that there has been a week that we missed his visit in more than a year. Even when I am on vacation, we arrange for someone else to handle this important task so that the parishioner does not miss out on receiving the Eucharist.

I told the parish office that this particular homebound parishioner is sometimes confused and may not remember the visit.

I made my weekly visit to the homebound parishioner once again last Sunday, and I told him to let his brother know that the weekly visits are occurring and not to worry that we had forgotten them. This is when the homebound parishioner showed his confusion again in stating, “Have you been visiting me weekly?”



I smiled to myself, embracing the humility of the moment and thought, “Tom you need to try harder to make a better impact on people going forward if they do not even remember you!”

All of this made me think about our loving Jesus. He helps us every day in so many ways. Do we fail to see His presence? Do we fail to thank Him daily for His help? Do we sadden His heart in not recognizing His love for each of us?

What we may do weekly does not hold the smallest resemblance of what God does for us all the time.

This has given me a lot to think about. How about you?

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek