Entertaining Angels Unaware

Dr. Robert Schaefer, Fr. Jim Schaefer, Lisa Schaefer, Agnes “Dee-Dee” (Richard) Keena, BVM preparing to witness the eclipse of 2024.

by Dee Dee Keena, BVM

“ON THAT DAY, SAYS THE LORD GOD, I WILL MAKE THE SUN SET AT MIDDAY
AND COVER THE EARTH WITH DARKNESS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT” (Amos 8:0)

On April 8, 2024, I was preparing to witness the eclipse of the sun. We had the perfect spot at my parish, Sacred Heart, in Ozora, Missouri. As Eileen Fuchs, BVM once observed, “You live on this holy mountain.”

Well, it is not a mountain, but high ground. Father Jim Schaefer, our pastor, decided to buy food and drink so if anyone would come to view it from our property, we could offer them something to eat and drink. We are located a short distance from I-55, which by 10:00 a.m. was filled with cars traveling south of us to view the eclipse. Little did they know, we had the perfect place without traveling another 25 miles. We knew a few friends, parishioners, and relatives would be there, but by 11:00 a.m. strangers began to come and ask if they could view the eclipse from the property. We welcomed them: two professors from the University of Missouri and their children; a movie director and producer, with his wife and child from California, three individuals from the state of New Mexico, three students from St. Louis University Medical School, and two professional photographers from St. Louis.

All strangers, led by a STAR to Sacred Heart Parish. At noon time, we put out the food and drink that we purchased and invited our VISITORS from the south and the west to share our food. To our surprise, a couple of them had their own picnic items, but asked if they could put them out to be shared with the rest of the people. During that hour we shared our food, but more importantly, we shared our stories. I was most impressed with how everyone, even the children, truly listened to one another as they spoke.

After the meal, one of the visitors asked if she could go into the church. After hearing that request, five others wanted to go into the church. I told them that our church is never, never locked. Father Jim always wanted people to be able to stop in, at any time, and be still in prayer. The silence was uplifting as we stood together. I wondered what each one was holding in their hearts. I prayed for them.

As we were leaving the church, one woman turned to me and said, “You are so welcoming.” I heard that same statement from a couple of other individuals that day. Welcoming, isn’t that what we, as BVM sisters and associates, the people of God, are called to do and be? As a parish we lived the words of Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.”

This unplanned encounter brought strangers together to share a meal, to share conversation, and to share a celestial event of three minutes of sacred silence, and as the woman from Columbia, Mo., exclaimed at the time of the total eclipse, “Praise God!” Yes, strangers coming together praising God in their own way—a moment of profound silence. Yes, we came as strangers, but left more blessed for sharing a little bit of our lives with one another.

I am grateful to share this day in my life with you and as Mary Frances Clarke so often closed her letters with, “MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.” And that is my prayer for each of you.