Making a Joyful Noise through Lent 04/02/2014

Making a Joyful Noise through Lent – 04/02/2014

“If we are to share our lives with others and generously give of ourselves, we also have to realize that every person is worthy of our giving. Not for their physical appearance, their abilities, their language, their way of thinking, or for any satisfaction that we might receive, but rather because they are God’s handiwork, his creation. God created that person in his image, and he or she reflects something of God’s glory. Every human being is the object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he himself is present in their lives. Jesus offered his precious blood on the cross for that person. Appearances notwithstanding, every person is immensely holy and deserves our love. Consequently, if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life. It is a wonderful thing to be God’s faithful people. We achieve fulfilment when we break down walls and our heart is filled with faces and names!” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel)

These are wonderful words from Pope Francis today. In a couple of my mission talks I touch on the very image that Pope Francis touches on. I certainly do not do it is eloquent as Pope Francis but I think I get the message across. We are all created in the image and likeness of God that makes us unique, special and important. I love Pope Francis’ last line above, “We achieve fulfilment when we break down the walls and our heart is filled with faces and names.” If we are looking for intimacy with God, if we are looking for God, the gift, the presence of God - God is all around us!

Within our scriptures today there is the thread of intimacy and relationship running through them. In the first reading from Isaiah (Isaiah 49:8-15) we hear Advent like images of how God enters our life and helps us to make the journey home. We hear how much God desires a relationship with us and how far God is willing to go for that relationship. There is the famous image in the reading about the child in the mother’s womb and even if that mother were to forget about the child God will not forget about the child and us.

In the Gospel (John 5:17-30) it is John’s image of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Throughout John’s entire Gospel we constantly hear about the intimate relationship that Jesus has with the Father. If you see Jesus you are looking at the Father. The two are inseparable, they work together. They know each others' thoughts, words and actions. We are invited to have this same kind of relationship with Jesus and the Father.

Intimacy is something we all want, something we all need but it is something many of us find difficult because of what it demands of us. It demands commitment, time, energy and a willingness to be truthful and honest. It demands a willingness to see the good in others and to understand their struggles, their faults and failings. Intimacy means we are willing to stand by the other even when it is not easy, even when it is not popular.

Much talk time and print space has been given to celibacy and chastity in recent years, some of it positive and much of it negative. Being one who has tried to live this vow I know that the most difficult part is intimacy and I am not just talking about physical intimacy. I think we all have a great need, desire, longing for and deep connection with another, a person to share our joys, fears, sadness, struggles, triumphs, feelings and love. We want that soul friend who knows us, understands us, values us, forgives us and loves us no matter what and yet whether celibate or not this friend is hard to find.

Many of the great saints talk about finding this relationship after a long struggle with God. I am not a great saint so my struggle for intimacy goes on. It is a great need in everyone’s life and sometimes it is a life-long search. For me there is always sadness when I see this intimacy devalued or absent. When I see a mother or a father forget their child, either through abuse, neglect or when their life become so self-centered they don’t make the connection. I am also encouraged and hopeful when I see the wonderful gift of intimacy at work in the lives of people, when they don’t forget!

Throughout Lent we have been reminded that living a life of faith demands looking beyond ourselves, it demands being other oriented. Relationships and intimacy are the way we can keep ourselves focus on others, focused on God. Let us live the journey of life today open to the gifts that others can bring to our lives!

Wednesday blessings everyone and don’t forget to make a joyful noise with your life today!

Daily Lenten Prayer: O God, you call us to be in love with you just as you are in love with us. Give us the grace to not be afraid of your gifts of love and mercy in our lives. Help us not to fear your invitation to intimacy and may we never hesitate to share your love with another. Grant us the strength to never forget the tenderness of your joyful loving presence and to trust that you will bring us home. Amen!

A Runner’s Thoughts: The next time you run, finish your run with a burst of speed no matter how far you have run. As you run all out those last few steps imagine receiving a greeting from God. God embraces you and holds you as you catch your breath. God offers a few good words to welcomes you home.

Daily Blessing: Happy Wednesday, “Hump Day” everyone! I hope this week has been good to you so far, if not there are still three plus days left for things to get better.

We had a very nice mission session last night and tonight is the closing. I will be talking with the youth of the parish this afternoon and then celebrating the closing mass beginning at 7:00 pm. Then early tomorrow it will be off to Midland, Texas and the beginning of my journey back to New York that will not end until tomorrow evening. As always please offer a prayer today for the faith community of St. Lawrence and St. Thomas and if you could add an extra prayer for their preacher it would be greatly appreciated!

My prayer of blessing today goes out to everyone that you may encounter the love of God in some special way today; through the gesture of another person, through an experience of life, through an encounter with God within yourself. May God’s love enliven a well-spring of joy within you that you can share with all you meet today. And may the joy of God be the noise of your life that you share with the world! May today be a day of many blessings today and a day without too much stress! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul