Any Sparks?
“John watched Jesus walk by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." 
John 1: 35
 
Amy and Drew had been set up on a blind date. They met for dinner and while it was basically a pleasant evening, by the end, she had a new appreciation for the term "painfully shy”: conversation was labored and eye contact was minimal. There was no "spark."
 
She liked Drew but they were very different: she was professionally ambitious; he was happy working for modest money counseling the homeless. Too bad, she thought, but this was not going anywhere. There was no "spark."
 
But then he called and invited her to a play. As they walked to the theatre, they were stopped in their tracks, when a homeless man sitting in the shadows called, "Hey, Drew!" The man's face lit up and shook Drew's hand, and the two chatted for a few minutes. Amy was surprised by their genuine affection and the ease of their banter. As they turned to leave, the man declared to Amy, "You've got a good man there; a really good man."
 
That evening, Drew shared more about his work. She began to grasp the depth of his compassion for the homeless, the addicted, and mentally ill. He spoke about what motivated him to do this work and how he worried for his father, who was about to undergo risky surgery. 
The two had a real conversation but, sadly, still no "spark."
 
He called again a few weeks later and they had lunch at a place near the hospital where his father was in the ICU. A few days later Drew called Amy to say his dad had died. She was there at the church as he eulogized his father. She saw him supporting his grieving mother and siblings. Amy saw beyond his earning potential and awkwardness.
 She saw him. She “beheld” him.
 
They recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. Twenty years of "sparks!"
 
A woman “beholds” the man, Drew. She sees deeper than his awkwardness to his compassion and generosity and these are the “sparks” that ignite a relationship centered on love and trust. Faith calls us to “behold” Christ. Look deeper and see Jesus in your midst calling you to come and see; come and know him. Let God's grace open your eyes and heart to focus your attention on the needs of others rather than your own needs, to find purpose in bringing joy into the lives of others. You will discover the “sparks” of the life and the love that God is placing even now right before you.  
Just a note:
The COVID-19 vaccine has begun to be more widely distributed. We thought it would be helpful for all our parishioners to understand the church’s position on the development, reception, and distribution of the vaccine.

This information can be found in the bulletin this weekend, as well with additional resources on our parish website, www.stlads.org.  

We hope this will enable you and your family to become better informed about this important topic. 


Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!!

Father Don