STEVE HAMLIN
1954-2017
The Journeyman
Steve Hamlin laid in his bed at the prison hospital in Galveston, Texas when the priest arrived, on the last day of his life. His decades of living in the street were finally behind him, as was the darkness of distancing himself from the ever-present love of his family. Steve was no longer answering the calls of his addiction, and no longer beholden to the beckoning of degradation. His early years of being an able tradesman, working with his hands and mentoring younger workers, seemed to reflect the legacy of another person. The successful legacy of a blossoming career, a family, a homeowner and a promising future. When Steve left that life, he entered the doorway to a life of addiction, miscreants, untruths and, at times, theft. That door remained open, until his last incarceration, and for the first time, in a long time, he was sober. In his sobriety, he was aware, and in need of, the support and love of the family and friends he had left so long ago. The pancreatic cancer that was draining his physical life, was simultaneously nourishing his hunger for spiritual life. In his final hours of life, as he was leaving the world, Father bent over, lifted him up in his arms, and loved him unconditionally.
GOSPEL MIRRORING
Luke 15:11-32
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’
20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.
27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’
28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”