COACHING FROM HEAVEN >
Matthew’s Reconciliation

Written by
Jeanine Vinciguerra

One upon a time there was a nine-year-old boy named Matthew Malloy. Now Matthew was a very nice boy who hardly ever got into trouble.

Everyone at Saint Mary’s School liked Matthew a lot.  When there was extra work to be done, Matthew was the first to volunteer to do the job.

Sister Rita always said that Matthew was a team leader. 

One day while Matthew and his classmates where playing outside at recess, one of the other boys in his class named David Vendetti started making fun of Matthew.

“Hey Matt, how does it feel to be the teachers pet?” Said David in a very loud mean voice. “I’m not the teachers pet” said Matthew. “Oh yes you are Matt, Sister Rita calls on you for everything. Matthew please lead us in prayers, or Matthew please bring the attendance down to the office, Matthew do this or that. You never do anything wrong do you Matthew. That’s why you are the teachers pet. Teachers pet, teachers pet”… David kept saying that until some of the other children started saying it too. All Matthew could see was the other children laughing at him. Just then the bell rang and recess was over. The children all got in line and waited to go into their classroom.

Standing in back of Matthew was David, who kept whispering “Teachers pet, Teachers pet.” Just as Sister Rita was turning around to speak to her class she saw Matthew push David down to the ground. “Matthew Malloy, That will be enough!” said Sister Rita in a very stern voice. “Matthew I want you to stand in this hall until I come to speak to you.” Sister Rita helped David up from the ground and asked him if he was all right. After all the commotion Sister Rita led her student to their classroom and said. “Once you have seated yourself I would like you to open you religion books to chapter 12 and begin to read to yourselves”. Just then Sister Rita went to the hallway to speak to Matthew. “Are you ready to talk to me?” Sister Rita asked.

Matthew just folded his arms and looked away. With that Sister Rita said “Very well Matthew I want you to go speak to Father Murphy.”

Sister walked Matthew down to father Murphy’s office. Sister Rita knocked on the office door.  A voice from the other side of the door said, “Yes come in.”  Sister Rita and Matthew walked into Father Murphy’s office and closed the door. “Sister Rita, may I help you?’ asked Father. “Yes you can father. Matthew Malloy pushed another student to the ground after recess today.  Matthew does not want to talk to me about this. I thought perhaps you could speak to him”.

In a very kind and gentle voice Father said,

“I would be happy to.” Sister Rita walked out of the office and closed the door behind her.

“Before we get into what happened at recess I need to go over to the church to bring this new banner that the fourth grade class made. Why don’t you come to the church with me?” Father Murphy said. Matthew did not say a word. He just followed Father Murphy into the church. When Father Murphy and Matthew walked into the back of the church Matthew stopped walking and just looked around. “What is it Matthew Father asked?”

 “It’s just the church looks so different when its empty” said Matthew.

 “Yes it does, but that is when I like the church the most” said Father. “Why” asked Matthew? “Because that is when I feel closest to God,” said Father Murphy. Matthew walked behind Father Murphy as they walked to the altar. Matthew watched Father Murphy genuflect as he faced the tabernacle when he got to the front of the church. Matthew just stood and watched as Father Murphy laid the banner on the table.

“I think the fourth graders did a great job on this banner. Why don’t you come up and look at it” said Father Murphy. 

Just as Matthew was walking to the altar Father Murphy said “Matthew I think you forgot to do something”.  Just then Matthew knelt down and genuflected in front of the tabernacle. “Thank you Matthew, I appreciate that” said Father Murphy. Once Matthew got to the table he saw a beautiful banner that had symbols of hearts, sheep’s, brooms and birds. The banner read We Open Our Hearts to You.

“This is great, but why did the fourth graders make this? Sister Rita said that we would be making our own banner,” said Matthew.

“Well Matthew, because the fourth graders want to show support for all those who will be making the sacrament of reconciliation. The fourth graders want you and everyone else to know that they will be there to support you when you make your Sacrament. They understand that it can be a very hard thing to face up to your mistakes. We all make mistakes Matthew, even me. I think that is why they made this banner” explained Father Murphy. Just then Matthew lowered is head in shame. Father Murphy saw this and said. “Matthew why don’t we sit down.” While the two were sitting Father Murphy said, “Just because people make a bad mistake does not mean they are bad people. Why don’t you tell me what happened at recess.”

 Matthew raised his head and began to tell Father Murphy everything. Then Matthew said, “David was making me so mad. I don’t know what happened, I just pushed him. I wanted him to stop saying all those mean things.” Matthew lowered his head again.

In a kind voice Father Murphy said, “Matthew, you know how you felt when David was saying those mean words to you right? How do you think God felt when you pushed David?”

In a very low voice Matthew said, “hurt”.

“I think your right” Father said. “Why do suppose God feels that way?” asked Father.

It took sometime but then Matthew said “Because I got angry with David and pushed him.” Replied Matthew.

Then Father asked Matthew “ Do you think God is angry with you?”

Matthew looked at Father and said “ yes.”

Father Murphy then asked “Are you sorry for what you did to David?” Matthew said “yes.”

Then Father asked “Why are you sorry”? Matthew said, “Because it was wrong of me to push David. When I pushed David I hurt God. Father I didn’t want to hurt God. I just wanted David to stop teasing me. I am really sorry.”

Father Murphy said “Matthew, God is not angry with you because, you are truly sorry for what you have done. As long as you understand what you did was wrong, and you are truly sorry, then God forgives you. He will always forgive you. But you must be able to tell God that for yourself. You must find a way to make things better. You must also try not to make that same mistake again. Why don’t we just sit here for a moment and ask for Gods forgiveness and help.”

Both Father Murphy and Matthew bowed their heads and began to pray. After they were done Father Murphy and Matthew walked back to Sister Rita’s classroom. While they were walking Matthew saw David and Sister Rita in the hallway. Matthew stopped and said “David I’m sorry for pushing you.” David just looked at Matthew and said, “It’s ok.”

Father Murphy said to Sister Rita, “You know what, I think Matthew is ready to make his Sacrament of Reconciliation”.

Sister Rita walked Matthew back into the classroom. Father Murphy looked at David and said, “Why don’t you and I go have a nice long talk.”

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Published with permission from the author.