Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 03/08/2014
“I never tire of repeating those words
of Benedict XVI which take us to the very heart of the Gospel: “Being a
Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the
encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a
decisive direction”.
Thanks solely to this encounter – or
renewed encounter – with God’s love, which blossoms into an enriching
friendship, we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. We become
fully human when we become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond
ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being.” (Pope Francis – Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel)
Perhaps these words from Pope Francis
give us insight to our Gospel (Luke 5: 27-32) today. Levi (Matthew) is invited into
a relationship, a friendship with Jesus. Jesus brings Levi beyond himself; he
gives his life new direction.
Jesus invites Levi to follow him. Jesus
invites a tax collector a profession that made the people involved hateful to
society. Yet, Jesus brings them into the community of faith. Jesus eats with
tax collectors and sinners and the religious leaders are taken back, Jesus
brings those who are thought to be outside the community into the community.
Yes, Jesus in the true "repairer of the breach and restorer of ruined
homesteads.
However, these words and this story are
not just about Jesus. Jesus is giving us an example. The transformation that
Pope Francis talks about means that we are to become the repairers of the
breach and restorers of the ruined homesteads. It is our job as members of the
faith community to reach out and make those on outside welcome within the
community, we are to extend God’s joy to all.
So often we find within the faith
community people who find it much easier to judge, to exclude, to criticize, to
question the actions of people then to reach out and help. So often we find
people within the faith community who create the breach and ruin the
homesteads.
As people of faith we live with the hope
that the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 58: 9b-14) are fulfilled in the person of
Jesus but we also live with the challenge that as a disciple of Jesus we need
to keep that hope alive. It has been said that through what God
"does" we come to know who God "is." I think this can also
be said about us. Though what we do for others as a people of faith people will
come to know who we are. They will come to know God’s joy!
As we try to make a joyful noise this
Lent let us respond to Jesus' invitation to follow and give joy and hope to
life as repairers and restorers!
Daily Lenten Prayer: Almighty and
ever-loving God, look with compassion on our humanness, on all our struggles
and weaknesses. Strengthen us for the journey ahead. Give us the wisdom to
follow your call. Enliven us with the grace to be repairers and restorers of
your joy and love. Help us to be people of joy and hope and to bring that joy
and hope to all we meet. Amen!
Runner's Thought: As we run today
and always let us find the grace and strength to choose the narrow road, the
steep uphill climb, the rocky trail, the muddy path because these choices are
made by few and these choice can at times make all the difference!
Daily Blessing: Happy Saturday
everyone! I hope you are having a restful and peaceful Saturday. If it happens
to be a busy one may you find a little time in the midst of today to at least
take a little breather.
I head out this morning for Rockville, MD
where I begin a mission this evening at St. Elizabeth Parish. I will be
preaching all the masses today and tomorrow and then the mission with be from
Monday to Wednesday at 11:30 am and 7:30 pm. If you are in the area come and
join us.
My prayer of blessing for us today is
that no matter what we are doing today, whether it be resting or busy about
many things that God will bless us with the wisdom and grace to recognize the
present of God within us and in the people around us. Blessings to all and again,
enjoy your day; enjoy your weekend. Do not forget to give God a little time
this weekend! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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