The New Wine Press vol 25 no 8 April 2017 | Page 5

Leadership
Search & Rescue
by Fr. Ron Will, c.pp.s., Leadership Team
In his book, Who is this Jesus?, Max Lucado has the reader stand in
the shoes of the Roman soldier, Claudius, who was assigned duty during
the crucifixion of Jesus. He rolled dice with the other soldiers on duty
and won the seamless cloak of Jesus. He was overjoyed and showed it
off to all his friends as he made his way home where he shared his joy
with his wife. But he got called back on duty the next day to guard the
tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed. The soldiers took turns
through the night. When they woke Claudius an hour before dawn, the
night was black. The moon was small and the stars were hidden by the
clouds. He stood guard on one side of the tomb as another soldier stood
on the other. Suddenly the ground began to shake—violently. It shook
so hard they fell to the ground. Dangerous rocks tumbled down from
the walls behind them. Sparks flew from the fire that they had built. The
soldiers asleep on the ground jumped up. Claudius could see the faces of
the other soldiers as if it were broad daylight. The rock had rolled back
from the tomb entrance and light roared out—a burst of fire with no
heat. A gust of wind blew from the tomb, put out the fire, knocked the
soldiers back, and the next thing he knew, the tomb was empty.
Later Claudius sought and found the disciples of Jesus hidden in the
upper room. They shared pieces of their experience of Jesus. Claudius
asked, “Who is this man? Who is this Jesus?” He was silent when they
answered. He couldn’t handle what he was hearing. But what he had seen
at the grave, he could not deny. He leaned over and put his elbows on his
knees and buried his face in his hands.
Thoughts rumbled in his head. He was so intent that he didn’t notice
the sudden silence. Stillness reigned for several seconds before he raised
his head. A light filled the room. He looked at the door and the window;
they were still closed. Faces that had been cast in shadows now beamed.
All eyes stared in his direction—not at him but behind him. But before
he could turn to see what they were seeing, a hand was on his shoulder.
When Claudius turned to look at the hand, he found the answer for his
heart. The hand was pierced. “Peace be with you!” the voice said.
What is it that God wants to communicate to humanity today? “God
loves you! Don’t be afraid. It’s going to be all right. Everything is going to
turn out for the best.”
We as Precious Blood people have opportunities to share this same,
loving Christ 24/7 if we are open to the nudges of the Holy Spirit.
continued on page 9
April 2017 • The New Wine Press • 3