Fr. Abraham

Praise be to our Lord and Savior – I Trust in You . . .

Sam humbly submits the following reflections:

Father, Faith and Friend

So, we went to the sidewalk on our day.  Little did we know the bounty awaiting us. . .

As a precious gift, we were blessed with the presence of “Fr. Abraham”.  An ardent pro-lifer himself Fr. Abraham assumed his position at the corner, stole hung around his neck, with the Crucified Christ held up, in one hand, praying. . . .

In our short time as “sidewalkers”, we haven’t experienced this exponential presence.  The mere sight of a Priest – in his clerics, with Jesus centered on the sidewalk. .  .powerful and prayerful.

How do I exhibit His Presence to others?  Quietly, peacefully and lovingly?  All I had to do was look to my left, up at the corner, to see The Living Example . . .

Needless to say, there was “icing on the cake” yet to come.  As our hour ended and we walked with Fr. Abraham toward our cars, fortunately parked near “that house a block away who lets us park there” (I still had never met these folks nor thanked them for the gesture) we talked with Fr. Abraham and offered to buy him a taco for breakfast.  But, He had a Plan greater than ours. . .

As we approached our cars, a lady walking a dog stopped Fr. Abraham and said she recognized him as the Priest who presided over her sister’s funeral.  Small world. . . Susie and I left them and headed to our car, we had to get out of there, our plan not His. . .

We politely waited for Fr. Abraham to finish his encounter so we could go get a taco.  Yet, as we waited for Father, a couple near “that house a block away who lets us park there” came out of nowhere and asked me, out of the blue:  “Are you a priest?  We want to go to Confession.”  I am no closer to being a Priest than Satan, I thought – but I knew there was one near as Fr. Abraham was on his way toward us.  Miraculously, I said “I am not, but THAT GUY is”.  At which, without missing a beat (but now, about to miss the breakfast taco I offered to buy him), Fr. Abraham, graciously, calmly and with a smile said “Hello, I am Fr. Abraham; how are you”.  At which time that couple explained their desire to confess (and that they needed to do it in Spanish, if possible).  Not a problem for bi-lingual Fr. Abraham. . .

As Susie and I left that morning, we gave thanks . . .many things laid in our path as we humbly served Him. . .