URUSOLO OLIVAN
1919-2013
Resident Member of the Catholic Worker Community
For forty years after he left his home in Mexico, the Carpenter worked in the United States. He worked on many houses here and the sturdiness of his work secured many people in their homes. He worked especially on roofs. His work prevented those living in their homes from experiencing the searing heat, the frigid cold, and saturating wetness of the harsh and mercurial Texas weather. The Carpenter lived a happy life with his wife and her children. One day, after she died, the Carpenter suddenly had to leave his home. The children of his wife, the same ones that he provided for, made him leave.
Now, the only place where he could find somewhere to stay was a Courtyard. He had lived outdoors before and now as an old man, he would do so again. The Carpenter’s life had come full circle. Homeless. Home. Homeless. Forty years ago he lived off of the land, but there was a significant difference this time. Now, the Carpenter was not a young man. He was old. The Carpenter had witnessed ninety-five New Year’s come and go. Still, he made many friends there at the Courtyard. These friends were full of love and joy. They always enjoyed the humor the Carpenter brought with each encounter.
Once, in the cold time of year, the Carpenter had a stroke. The stroke left him unable to feed himself or to walk or even to sit. Instead, he laid on a thin mattress in the Courtyard. Day in and day out, the Carpenter who once raised roofs, lay immobile in the openness of the Courtyard. Only his friends, Fredrico and Paul would help take him here and there to eat. Try as he might, neither his friends nor others could get him inside the shelter, out of the Courtyard. He had no papers saying he could go in there.
One day, they found a place that had a roof, a room, and a bed for him. The Catholic Worker House brought the Carpenter happy days of laughter and restful nights once again, until finally the Carpenter entered into his eternal home after five months.
When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.
GOSPEL MIRRORING
LUKE 5:17-25
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
17 One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
18 Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;
19 but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus.
20 When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”
21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?
23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?
24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.”
25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God.