The Ministry to the Ignored
Fr. John Collins of the Paulist Fathers is a big guy with a booming voice who preaches extraordinary Missions around the country. He claims he has only one talent: Preaching. But like many gifted people he has an elusive blind spot about God’s plans for him.
For example, he has blasted off a brand new ministry entitled “The Ministry to the Ignored”, based on the Fatima story wherein one of the three visionaries (the boy Francesco) is somewhat pushed to the background, where he is neither addressed by Our Lady nor does he address her. The remarkable conversations occur only between the girls (who are older) and the Heavenly Visitor.
Fr. John asks: “Why is this?” “What does it mean? Personal interpretations surface with many possible meanings. He believes that it is Our Lady suggesting to us that there are myriad human beings on this earth who feel alienated, lonely, overlooked, disregarded. Human beings who could be lifted to a more enjoyable and happy level by little “reaching outs” like a smile or a nod or a warm quick “hello.”
It can fit perfectly into a realistic spiritual life since there are always “Poor souls” among us - the shy, the wounded, the inept. It is hard to believe that even among educated, experienced populations one can find disregard and neglect for those who are personally unappealing or unattractive or hold different views. But ignoring a human being is deeper. Note that military organizations worldwide require a salute be acknowledged. I have seen, even experienced the hurt when I get a blank stare in my personal attempt to be friendly - almost as if one says to me: How dare you intrude into my royal presence! We probably all have committed such offenses, apparently minor, but potentially deep-seated in the potential for “hurt.”
The old seminary stand by in Moral theology, Tanquerey, held most strongly that NOT responding to another’s greeting is a serious “matter” because it carries a metaphysical dimension. It says that I do not really exist.
Even granting that we all should grow up, get over it, and avoid being “too sensitive”, Fr. John is calling us to enlarge our world; carry the cross of being with those whom we do not admire. He himself is extraordinary in supporting “peripheral” people - those who for whatever reason are semi-wallflower types or who find it exceedingly difficult to enter the mainstream of human exchange. Of course, there are others who simply do not care. They follow the old, Navy No No “Let’s shove off, I’m aboard. Never mind the other guy.”
Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a similar insight suggesting that a modern malaise of loneliness afflicting the world is crippling human happiness and spiritual growth. Again the simple is profound. Fr. John carries a card attached to two strings, looking like some kind of kind of identification badge one sees in hospitals or banks. It carries a picture of Francesco, urging us to be aware of the little guy who melts into the wall.
It seems to me that is just another appropriate way of applying the inflexible command of Jesus:
“Whatsoever you did to one of these, my little people, you did to Me….”