On The Witness Of A Generous Giver
“From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted even more will be demanded.” –Luke 12:48
Our words and actions affect other people! In reality, we are either an adverse or positive influence. Knowledge is the measure of our responsibilities. The more we understand about the Christian faith, the more practice is expected of us – and the more essential it is to use our gifts to build up the kingdom of God. Every well-meaning mission must begin with proper preparation, especially so in our journey of faith.
The Church blesses us with the gift of seven sacraments, and every one of them has divine and human dimensions. In Baptism, by the infusion of sanctifying grace, we have the life of God within us. We become part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth; and Christ made it clear that baptism is required for our salvation. God has assigned each of us to share this message.
When those we love make mistakes, it is difficult to reveal their faults. The morals in our culture continue to shift. Even the Apostles were affected by the culture they lived in. Like any good evangelist, we must remain faithful to the teachings of the Gospel. We are obscured in our understanding of truth if our hearts are not open to learn. A sincere and self-giving heart is the only way to share the message of Jesus!
I recently attended the 95th birthday party of a dear friend. Unknowingly, this man has influenced my life in a very positive way. Bob Tresslar and his wife, Maria Teresa “Teeter,” celebrated almost 70 years of marriage before she died peacefully at home in March 2013. Growing up, I had the privilege of witnessing their great love for one another by attending Mass at the same church and going to school with their nine children. Even as a young child, I knew there was something very special about the way Bob and Teeter interacted with one another. It seemed that I never saw one without the other, and they were always holding hands. The Sacrament of Marriage is a divine gift, and you could witness the acceptance of this blessing in the Tresslar family.
Teeter was the daughter of a Mexican Diplomat, born and educated in New York City. She met Bob in a summer class at the University of Mexico in 1940. This love story continued through the years of WWII. Teeter became his wife, and a “Hoosier,” by making her home in Bicknell, Ind., where her fire-pilot husband was a native. They later raised their family in Vincennes with a tremendous sense of appreciation for their bicultural background and the Catholic faith. For years, they worked tirelessly to support Catholic education in Vincennes. The same devotion was expressed when Teeter became ill; and for years, Bob never left her side. I believe their marriage was the perfect example of Christ’s love for His Bride—the Church.
The legacy of genuine love for Christ and the generous giving of abundant life in marriage are invaluable to God’s plan for the world. Bob and Teeter have given the most cherished gift to their nine children, 20 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. My life has been blessed by witnessing this inspirational commitment to love.
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” –Hebrews 10:14
God bless people who demonstrate true love. Please thank those who share the joy! Thank you, Bob and Teeter! Amen!
