“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
As a father was putting his six-year-old, Aidan, to bed, he tapped the little boys’ chest. “Do you know what you have in there?” he asked. “My guts?” he responded. “No,” said the dad, “you have a piece of God in there. It’s God’s gift and it is in all of us.”
“Do you have a piece of God in you?” Aidan asked his dad. “Yes.”
“What about mommy, does she have a piece of God in her heart?” “Yes, she does too.” Then dad reminded him about one of his kindergarten classmates, Millie, who was, according to Aidan, ‘a really bad kid’. “Even Millie has a piece of God inside her.” The stunned little boy burst out, “No, not Millie!”
When his father insisted, Aidan said, “Daddy, you don’t know Millie like I do! She doesn’t have a piece of God.” But dad insisted. Finally, Aidan gave in, shaking his head, “Well, Millie’s piece of God must be all covered over with junk!”
All covered over with junk, too often that is the case for all of us. Jesus, however, could always see through the junk and find in each heart the reflection of his Father’s face. And that is what Jesus is reminding us in this weekend’s Gospel. All around Jesus people were judging and condemning one another. With them, there were no second chances, but with Christ there is always another chance; for the woman caught in sin, for Peter who denied him, and even for Judas. Jesus saw beyond all their past junk. He saw their hopes and their longings. He saw into their hearts and saw the goodness of his Father’s face still shining. So, Jesus gave them each another chance.
What happens when God gives a second chance? A grateful heart happens; filled with hope and a desire to reach out to others whose hearts too are covered over with junk. Now is our time to follow Jesus. Put down the burdens of anger or hurt, let go of the guilt, and surrender your heart to the one who died for you. Then, knowing so great a love, extend it to one another. Help lift the junk that weighs on every soul. Then at last, God’s smile can shine bright on every face----even yours.
Fr. Don
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Notes
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