Amid turmoil some choose to Walk the Talk

Matthew 20: 26-28

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom ‘for many.’”

This past week, I had the opportunity and privilege to lead a group of 18 teenagers on a weeklong service opportunity we chose to call “Walking the Talk.” Sprung from a pre-covid program, this idea came from a desire to show a new generation of up and comers that the Catholic Church is still alive, and does more than just tell people how to help others, but demonstrates that help. This plan was in the works since mid-May and took on a different meaning for me, and all of us after June 7.

“Walking the Talk” was a week of intentional prayer, reflection, quiet time and service immersion. We fed people, served people, cleaned places of worship, picked up litter and debris, and grew closer together as a group.

Our week of service began at the Catholic Charities Food Pantry in South Buffalo. We helped with deliveries, stocked shelves, set up the pantry’s daily giveaway area, and learned about the needs of people who are eligible to use the pantry.

On Tuesday, we went to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and worked on preparing meals for the 1,000 people served daily. We peeled 500 eggs, helped plate for Taco Tuesday, and helped organize bakery donations and personal care products. We then went inside the beautiful church to pray and reflect. The teens were asked to close their eyes and reflect on where they saw the face of God in their service, how they believe they became Christ’s mercy that day, and who in their own daily life continually shows them God’s love.

Wednesday, we went to St. Vincent de Paul’s central office in Buffalo to work in the soup kitchen where our team got an opportunity to not only prepare the meal but to serve the clients. When asked during our time of reflection later that day, one boy shared that he would always remember: “The man who came back for his water bottle that was just a regular bottle, and how happy he was that we saved it for him. It made me think how many things I just dispose of that are much more valuable than that. I think I need to work on that.” One girl said, “I was moved by how thankful the people were for a meal I may not have even tried.” We talked about how Jesus fed the 5,000 and how it is now our mission to do the same. Over 160 people ate better that day because of our teens.

Thursday found us giving back to St. Benedict’s. We helped move things in the school, pull weeds, and clean the church. We then learned about prayers of petition and how God listens to us when we are in prayer. We reflected on the week so far, and then took time to pray for whatever the teens asked. Many of them prayed for a deceased loved one, sick people and a greater understanding of actual poverty and needs of the poor. We prayed for our Church, not just for St. Ben’s but for the whole Church.

Friday, we spent the day deep cleaning the St. Aloysius Parish grounds. We weeded and mulched many different gardens and picked up trash and debris. We spent time together with a shared meal of a teen favorite – pizza and wings – before ending the day with more prayer and sending forth a blessing.

The teens also talked about what comes next, a monthly service opportunity, time for prayer, fellowship, and also the idea of prayer and service in their daily lives. I was blown away by their love for God, their drive to do what is right, and their ability and desire to take care of each other. I left with a greater appreciation for the moment at hand, and a deep desire to keep keeping on. I also have never in my 20 years of ministry  ever led a group that were so engaged, kept going, and yearned for more, like this one did.

This past week gave me hope for the future of not only the Church, but for the world. A beautiful reminder to be kind to this new generation, mentor them, and help them grow wise because they are the keepers of the future. All indications lead me to believe that our Church and our world will be in good hands.

Outside of praying for the Church, talk about renewal was not there; all that was there was pure ministry, love, mercy, enthusiasm and prayer. This proves to me that now more than ever we need to Walk the Talk and evangelize not just with words but with action. Eighteen teens chose to do that amid chaos. The question and challenge is will more of us join them. May God Bless and empower all of us with the spirit to be mercy, and not just talk the talk, but walk the talk and inspire others to do the same.