Sunday, February 15, 2015

Invitation to Lent

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This morning each child came up to the altar, picked up “Pickles” from their chair and they were greeted with a smile. In front of the altar, their artwork was displayed in the shape of a heart with a message. They wrote prayers that expressed confidence that Jesus loves them very much and promised to help them live in their hearts.

I heard no spitballs stories, but our young ones knew ways they could be better by being more helpful to their mom or taking time to play with their baby sister. What a joy to see in their eyes, no fear, but a desire to follow Jesus more closely. 

After their act of contrition, they receive the grace of absolution. More important, they were invited to show their gratitude to God by a promise to gently comb their kitties and doggies that would make their pets feel loved and healthy.

Later, at Mass their parents heard the gospel story about how a leper took the risk and asked Jesus for a healing. More important, this leper heard that Jesus cares about those no one else cares about. He heard that Jesus includes the excluded, and who was more excluded than himself?     

Sadly, the leper was suspected of some grave sin and this disease was punishment.  But Jesus was there for him as he was for so many outcasts. He reached out and touched the leper; In place of isolation he gave companionship. In place of rejection he gave acceptance. In place of disgust he gave compassion. That must have been far better for the man than any physical cure could possible mean.

Yes, the real power of the gospel is not that a sick person was made healthy, but that a person universally held to be repulsive, unlovable, even evil, is in fact loved, is the object of God’s mercy and compassion. The leper brought the dark and frightening side of his nature and laid it out before Christ and was touched. Is there anyone here who would do the same?

 In prayer, in quiet, see yourself presenting your dark side to Jesus who embraces what others reject and touches what others shun, who ignore the labels, slurs and categories others construct. “Come to me all of you who labor and are burdened by hurt and isolation and carry the world of being cut off and I will refresh you.”

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who have been rejected by family and friends. In this Season of Lent, may we like the children “bare our souls” knowing that you desire to make our hearts like yours.