Oil Changes and Open Doors

By Joe Sullivan, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

My car hit 110,000 miles the other day, so I took it in for service. “I’m going to walk home, and in two hours walk back”, I told the mechanic. “Oh, you live close?” he asked. “You know the little church being built on the corner? I live there.”

 “Are you a priest?” he pressed.  “No, I am a consecrated layman,” I replied, wondering if he would really understand the concept.  

“I’m Catholic, but I only go to Church for baptisms, weddings and funerals,” he said.  “I get it. Hatched, matched, and dispatched. We need to go every Sunday – Keep Holy the Lord’s Day,” I emphasized. “Besides, look at your name tag.”  He looked down at the embroidered patch over his shirt pocket, then back at me with a sheepish grin, and uttered, “Jesus”.  “That’s right! And don’t forget it”.  Laughs and big smiles broke out at the counter.  

I invited Jesus to visit the new chapel and to go to Confession.  “It’s been years,” he whispered.  “The Jews wandered through the desert for 40 years and found the promised land,” I gently nudged.  “Our owner here is Jewish”, he told me. “See the little scroll in the small glass tube at the entrance?  All the entrances have them. It is the mezuzah – “And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates” – and the Shema – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”  

“Real Cool!” I was impressed.  I paid the bill. “See you in 10,000 miles for the next oil change.”  Jesus was quick in his response. “It is supposed to be every 5.”  “The Toyota people told me 10, because it is a Hybrid,” I countered.

Jesus looked at his colleague, Alex, “Do you want to tell him or should I?”  I decided to up-the-ante. “Ok. OK.  I will be here after 5,000 miles, but then after I am taking you over to the Church to go to Confession, and then…we will have a beer together.”