Over the summer, I was invited to an engagement party for a young couple and found myself at a table of retired Catholic school teachers. While they lamented the closing of many wonderful Catholic schools, the focus of the stories turned to their new lives as “grandmothers in training.”One new grandmother shared that taking care of her new granddaughter was a joy that had its challenges. She was living with her daughter and son-in-law in a “gated community.” She explained that there was a gate at the top of the stairs to prevent the baby from falling. Then there was another gate at the bottom of the stairs from going up the stairs. There was another gate in front of the basement stairs and then the most important gate was the one to the laundry room where the family kept the dog’s food and water bowl. If one were not watchful, the little one would crawl her way to the dog food bowl and help herself to a tasty snack.
Despite the gates in this home, this twenty year plus retired educator shared her experience and wisdom in teaching this crawler about life, reading her granddaughter stories and playing with her blocks and stuffed toys. It was a new vocation that brought her much enthusiasm and joy to her life.
Still, I wonder how many people feel that their churches have put up gates that prevent them from experiencing this joyful spirit. I am aware of those misunderstandings that plague our minds and souls and result in people feeling unwelcomed and unaccepted in their faith communities. But as I share with my college students, we are all searching for joy and Jesus knew the best place to find that joy in life. He simply taught to take all our wonderful gifts that we possess and help our kids with their newborn child, or sit by the side of a parent in their bedroom as they wait the glory of God or take our neighbor to the their favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden. My apologies to my Italian Sonshine Friends who claim this is not a real Italian restaurant but the neighbor believes they make the best sauce in town.
Jesus does not expect all of us to walk the road to Calvary and die on a cross. Although sometimes we felt crucified by the church, our family or employer. Despite, these painful moments that take away the joy, I want you to refocus your heart on the fact that God wants us to take the risk to bring His love to those who feel helpless, unwanted or misunderstood. Those of us, who chose not to follow Jesus to the cross, are home doing hard good work like washing the dishes, taking out the garbage, working two jobs and mending fences with our in-laws.
Jesus watches over us as we reflect: “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” (Psalm 24:7).
