My priest, our business manager, and I with two members of our parish trekked to Denver, for we were afforded the opportunity to present the state of our school to the powers that be at the archdiocese--including to the Archbishop. Before the meeting as we were making introductions, I knelt down to shake the hand of Archbishop Chaput.
I met him before a couple of times, but neither time did I kneel. Perhaps I didn't feel comfortable. Perhaps I didn't have the courage. Perhaps, this time, the Holy Spirit granted me the necessary fortitude and humility. How many times has the Lord told us to be not afraid. This time I am glad I wasn't--I experienced a revelation...an epiphany. As I looked up into his strong, compassionate eyes, I truly saw an apostle of Jesus. For the first time, I saw myself as his humble soldier of Christ.
For the rest of the day I was profoundly touched with this illumination. The experience was no different than had I met St. John or St. Matthew. The fact that I am reading his book, Render Unto Caesar, may have something to do with it as well or that my oldest is discerning the priesthood. (He met him a few times this past winter and a few years back in Australia during World Youth Day.) Whatever the case, I truly realize he is a successor to the apostles, and I am deeply humbled. At once the meaning of my responsibility as his Catholic school principal came to fruition. I am his simple disciple.
