Exult of Easter Vigil

Richard Fleming (a pseudonym) a retired businessman, was doing paperwork at home one Monday afternoon when the phone rang.

“Mr. Fleming?” a cool, crisp voice said. “This is Lauren from Dr. Brown’s office I just wanted to confirm your appointment with the doctor tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.” “Are you sure about the appointment?” he asked the nurse. “This is Richard Fleming?” she asked, more brusquely this time. “Yes of course it is.” “Well, Mr. Fleming, I have you down for a nine o’clock.” “Lauren,” he confessed, “I don’t remember making this appointment.” “Listen, Mr. Fleming.” she snapped all traces of civility now gone. “Dr. Brown is one the busiest and most important cardiologists in New York. Appointments with him have to be booked months in advance.”

“What should I do?” Richard mouthed to his wife. “Go” she shrugged. “If you made an appointment, it’s not nice for you to cancel at the last minute.” “OK,” he told Lauren, “I’m coming; I’ll be there tomorrow morning.” The next morning, he underwent a grueling series of test in Dr. Brown’s office. After Dr. Brown had begun to evaluate the results, he returned to Mr. Fleming’s room, a grim expression on his face. “Not a moment too soon!” he exclaimed. “You’re a lucky man, Mr. Fleming. You have a serious cardiac problem, and you’ll have to go in for surgery immediately. It’s fortunate that you had an appointment today,” the doctor added.

Meanwhile, at the secretary’s desk in the reception room, an irate man was causing a minor commotion. “What do you mean; Richard Fleming is already in the doctor’s office? I am Richard Fleming.” “Here” he shouted, shoving the appointment card under her nose. “See for yourself. It’s today’s date, and it says nine o’clock.” “Then who,” the young nurse asked, bewildered, “is the man sitting in the doctor’s office right now?” “Wait a second.” said the secretary slowly, “let me check my records.” And there she found two separate files for two different Richard Flemings – one who lived in Manhattan and was currently fuming in the reception room, another which lived in Brooklyn and was currently being given a serious diagnosis together with the prescription for cure. The wrong Richard Fleming had been called by the secretary. Only it was really the right Richard Fleming – the one who needed the mistake to happen in order for his life to be saved!

Comment
An event can be seen as a mistake or a miracle depending on the prism through which you view your life. Mistakes happen, but God can use them for a greater good. God used the fall of Adam to show His boundless love for us. In today’s story, a mistake saved the life of Richard Fleming; it was a happy fault.

Fr. Hugh Duffy