"Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." A fitting title for the last episode of one of the most popular television series ever produced. In the midst of a chaotic war setting where doctors performed mostly "meatball surgery," where the conditions were dismal at best, the pressure and the gore were never ending, and the coping mechanisms were as extreme as the living conditions, one character emerged as the "voice of reason" tending to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those around him. Father John Mulcahy, the Jesuit Roman Catholic priest assigned as the chaplain to MASH 4077, a mobile surgical hospital in Korea, was a flawed beacon of light who could joyfully officiate a Jewish wedding in a war zone as well as calmly perform a tracheotomy with a pocketknife. The zany cast of characters around him depended heavily on Father Mulcahy; he was God's spokesman for 11 years in a hellish setting humbly trying to make sense of the irrational. I never paid much attention to this character throughout the series run; now he stands as a representation of what Jesus is calling me to do daily. Which by extension is what our churches should be, "holy MASH units" with folks like this fictitious chaplain willing to get out of their comfort zones for His Glory. First Responders Although I spent a good part of my career training police officers both here and abroad, the function of a religious advisor within the departments was never a topic of much conversation. Yet, as time has passed, much like my recent "discovery" of the above television character, I have realized the pivotal need of a chaplain in extreme workplace settings. This conviction has been strengthened by the several cops and the police chaplain that form part of the congregation at my "Spiritual MASH Unit" who label their role in the workplace as "God's First Responders." Consequently, they invited me to participate in a Police Chaplain Seminar just last week where I learned about the severe hardships endured by our front-line public servants in our present environment. Policing in the 20th Century was for the most part a "fun job." This is not as prevalent today and thus the importance of spiritual counseling. It is interesting to note that regardless of the topic discussed at this 5-hour training session, the conversation eventually shifted to one specific event, which accentuated whatever subject matter needed highlighting, and that was the Surfside condo collapse of four years ago which took the lives of 98 people. There was something about "working in the pile" for 12 hours a day retrieving body parts in miserable conditions that characterized the need for special counseling. Yet, this group concentrated mostly on the "good stuff," particularly on the four folks rescued from the rubble and how this horrible tragedy brought departments and officers much closer. I left the exercise with a much deeper appreciation of our first responders and wondered out loud how does their sacrifice and dedication apply to us... to me? Biblical examples The Bible brings us several examples of individuals who could be characterized in this manner. In Luke 10:25-37 we have the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, a most unusual fellow who saves, protects and heals a stranger on the road when other more reputable fellows pass the victim by. And then Jesus finishes the story by telling you and me to "Go and do likewise." Nothing subtle about his command; "just run towards danger in order to put others’ needs above your own." The prophet was just as decisive and responsive in Isaiah 6:8 when he heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send and who will go with us?" and he immediately replied, "Here I am. Send me." And again, the Lord concluded with a command, "Go and tell these people," which also applies to you and me. And then there is Matthew 9:9, where Jesus tells the rich tax collector to follow him, and without hesitation or trepidation the young man leaves everything to follow the Messiah. Did you hear Jesus calling out to us, "Follow me?" Hmmmm... would I help a wounded man in a dark dangerous road, agree to follow God at once without explanation, or leave all I possess in this world on a single command? Our marching orders The Scriptures themselves give us our marching orders when it comes to responding and ministering. Whether it is the apostle John reminding us that "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" or Jude, the half-brother of Jesus exhorting us to "be merciful to those who doubt and snatch others from the fire and save them," they exhort us to act and do it quickly. We don't need government authority or training to the job that God has called us to do. We are to rescue the perishing, save people from the fire of hell, extract others from the rubble of destructive addictions, cry with those who cry, assist the victims of child abuse, give first aid to broken hearts and ensure the safety of the powerless. Just as Father Mulcahy was a servant in a military conflict, we need to do likewise in the battlefield God has afforded us here, so when our time is up, we can conclude with Goodbye, Farewell and Amen!! Omar Aleman is a retired federal agent and consultant. He and his wife Julianne assist and support several Christian non-profit organizations both here and abroad. ENCOURAGEMENT 34 JULY 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition With A Little Help from My Friends - Omar Aleman - Aleman and Associates Cast photo from M*A*S*H for 1977. From the CBS publicity photo in the public domain (U.S.). Source: Wikimedia Commons.
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