By Norm McGraw
In the first reading, coming from the third chapter in the second epistle of St. Peter, the apostle calls us to live godly lives in anticipation of Christ’s return. As he states it: “Be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity.”
Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18
Mark 12:13-17
(At the writing of this reflection, Bob Schlut, one of the members of our Catholic group, has just passed away. This reflection is dedicated to him and another very close friend of mine, Walter S. Drummond, Jr., whose funeral I went to a few days ago.)
Sometimes, my reflections are influenced by events that have occurred recently in my life. This is one of those occasions. Recently, a good friend of mine, whom I’ve known for over fifty years, passed away at the age of ninety-six.
I first met Walt Drummond at my college coffee shop after I graduated. I was writing music for theatrical and cinematic productions when he entered the graduate program for television and movie screenwriting. He was in his mid-forties, already having lived what some might consider a full life. He had served honorably in the army, then moved successfully back to civilian life.
Walt then re-enlisted in the Air Force, serving honorably there before becoming an immigration and naturalization official. After a stint there, he was hired as a Special Effects Artist at the Walt Disney Company before deciding to go back to school.
What we admired most about his twenty years of life experience, which he had over us, younger fellas, was his positive attitude. His optimistic outlook would rub off on you. Later, years after graduating, in his late seventies, he found the woman of his dreams. They had less than two years of happiness before she died. It was then that God became his “refuge.”
Walt’s caretaker, who became his adopted daughter, invited him to join her church congregation, where he became a deacon. When I attended services for his passing last Monday, my thoughts drifted to Tuesday’s readings (June 2nd).
In the first reading, coming from the third chapter in the second epistle of St. Peter, the apostle calls us to live godly lives in anticipation of Christ’s return. As he states it: “Be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity.”
Walt’s turning to God to handle the grief of losing a loved one is an example of someone who can “grow in grace” from a tragedy.
The responsorial psalm from the ninetieth chapter, considered a prayer of Moses, reinforces the idea that God can be our refuge. “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” It also reminds us of the limitations God puts on our time here on earth. “You turn man back to dust, saying, ‘Return, O children of men.’ For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.”
Even Walt’s ninety-six years are as yesterday.
The gospel reading, from the twelfth chapter of St. Mark, is filled with parables, teachings, and confrontations with the Pharisees that detail Jesus’ teachings and his Divine authority. This passage focuses on Jesus answering the Scribes’ “trap” question about paying taxes to Rome. After looking at a Roman denarius, he states: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
The key element in this answer lies in the latter part of Jesus’ comment. Most people know that the government wants us to pay taxes. Therefore, the key question is: “What does God want from us?”
After graduating from the university, Walt spent much of his time writing short stories and creating and drawing new cartoon characters. He did this faithfully until he passed away. Did he sell any during that time? No, not a lot. But he was still a success story.
Why? Because of the joy in his heart every day, he shared it with everyone he met. The boyish excitement he exhibited, whether he was telling you about a new idea he had or laughing at a joke he just told, would simply make your day better. That’s what God wanted him to do. That’s how he repaid “to God what belongs to God.”
That’s Walt’s legacy to me. Do what God asks you to do. You know in your heart what that is. That’s what Walt did his entire life. Doing what God asks you to do will influence others in ways that you cannot imagine. That’s how Walt affected me.
Repay “to God what belongs to God,” and you will be happy in this life — and in the next.