One of my favorite previous blog posts. Fr. DeLillio, OSFS

Some years ago Thomas Merton,  a Trappist Monk , shared this insight:

“The pleasure of a good act is something  to be remembered, not to feed our complacency but to remind us that virtuous actions are not only possible and valuable, but they can become easier, more delightful and more  forceful than any acts of vice which often frustrates them”

Thomas Merton’s  words  came alive recently  in the precarious lives of eleven young Thai soccer players, and their coach perilously stranded in a cave flooded with water.  Amazed and delighted,  we watched fellow Thais and strangers  from other countries respond  and work together  to devise ways to save these frightened boys.

No one  noticed  nationality, race, gender, culture, or religion, they  only saw  eleven young, terrified boys, alone in a dark cave, far from  the warmth ,safety and love of their families. These international Good Samaritans had   only one desire: to  rescue those trapped from this dangerous place, and bring them safely  home to  the arms of their loved ones. It is a tender hearted purpose we can all understand.

Without counting the cost to themselves , they were willing  to try whatever they had to, to free these trapped boys. “The pleasure of a good act is something to be remembered …to remind us that virtuous actions are not only possible and valuable …but are more forceful than  any acts of vice…”

Merton’s words are so true. What happened in Thailand these past few days are profound lessons for all.  Jesus describes his situation as loving God and loving  your neighbor.  He later adds,  when we do this, we show our love for Him. In Second Corinthians, St Paul  attributes it all to Jesus: “My grace is sufficient for you for power is made  perfect in weakness.” ( 12:9) When we put all these words together, the rescue  of these boys shows how we are to love God, but even more, to love and help our neighbor.

Christ promises  us  to fill in our weakness with his strength, but how he does this he never reveals.  We see in that flood drenched cave how!  Christ’s  strength arises from the gifts and talents of  the rescue workers sharing their skills to rescue  these distressed boys.

Where did these divers get their talents and gifts if not from God their creator? He gives us gifts  for moments like these.  It is then the Holy Spirit prompts those that have to risk, reach out, and help.   It’s all in the plan of God.

This is why Jesus asks each of us not to hoard our treasures in a barn, but store them in heaven. We store them in heaven, when  we share them right here and now with those who are helpless like trapped soccer players or anyone near us.  When we share , our gifts are stored in  heaven and they are repaid “a hundredfold.” And the  promised strength of Christ  is filling in the weakness where needed.  Whether in the tenuous life situation of those anxious soccer players or  the neighbors we help.

God does have a plan.  God either will fix the situation or send in others using their gifts and talents. It is wonderful when it ends happily as in the case of the young soccer players.  Yet what truly matters more is that we jumped in and used our gifts where needed. For Jesus sharing our gifts and talents is the successful ending He seeks.

When we help someone in need, we build God’s kingdom on earth like the happy reunited Thai families. And as Merton says, this goodness reminds the world “… that virtuous actions are not only possible and valuable …but are more forceful than  any acts of vice…”  With Jesus smiling gratefully for our assistance.