Devotionals

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Jesus Christ: The Chauffer Of Life
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


Father Basil Keenan, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Seminole, Oklahoma is a priest who likes to challenge his parishioners and non-parishioners with provocative questions. Recently, Father Basil (the name he is most often referred to) asked a number of the faithful following Mass once it was known that Pope John Paul II had died what sort of predecessor they would like to see—in just one word.

An interesting collection of words came forth from the casual conversation: Strong, Godly, Wise, Friendly, Saintly, Loving and so forth. But a young girl from a family who attendance crossed three or four generations said, “I’d like the next Pope to be my ‘chauffer’.”

Because this young person was so young most of us did not think she really understood the meaning of what she was saying or suggesting. However, on the other hand, maybe her and my Heavenly Father might have directly influenced her as He did when Jesus asked Peter and the other Apostles “who do you say I am?”

The word “chauffer”, I later discovered, was invented more than two hundred years ago in France. The person responsible for producing the hot air for the balloon was called the “chauffer” from the French word meaning “to heat”. Without the efforts of the “chauffer”, the balloon would not successfully be lifted up to soar to above the heavens. Likewise, without the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s life giving eternal gift to humankind, humankind would not be available to be lifted to eternal life. Jesus Christ’s work and life gives us His spirit every single day so that we can rise above the trials, difficulties and preoccupation with the devil, the world and the flesh that challenges our spiritual life daily. Without the lift from Jesus Christ supplies me/us with I can do absolutely nothing.

God, as the eternal “chauffer” of the human spirit, is a comforting thought! Is it not?

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