My friends, being that we didn’t meet on Ash Wednesday this past week, and the fact that ashes will be given out today, just a word or two about why we have this ritual.  Like so much in Scripture, here again, we need to go deeper to find perhaps a hidden message for us.

   The prophet Joel in the reading for Ash Wednesday is speaking about the custom of “rending” or tearing their clothes, covering themselves with ashes to physically say that something was amiss in their lives that they needed to change and on a deeper level, to remind themselves that life is short—the grave is near and now is the time to start being their best.

   This past week, I was thinking along these lines as I had the privilege of being with a neighbor and good friend in the last hours of her life, Sharon Martin, as the family had called me to the hospital to give support and additionally, asked me to preside at her Celebration of Life.  Sharon was the type of person that one would want to emulate in their own life because, simply put, she was a very good person, and I believe always tried to “be her best.”

      So, my friends, we can look at this yearly ritual in the same way—a reminder that perhaps we aren’t all we should be, if we truly claim that we are following our brother Jesus. Additionally, thinking on the words that go with the “giving of ashes,” “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return,” it seems that they can serve to simply remind us of our small, but not insignificant place in our world.  We have significance, but we must see that in balance with all the rest of creation.

 We are no more or no less, but in many ways, equal to all created life in its many forms as each has a contribution to make, that without, life would be less good for us.  With that in mind, we really, each of us, should do all that we can to protect our beautiful world, and all of life, in all its many forms.

   Joel, looking at life in this deeper sense, is telling the people, ourselves included, “Don’t rend [or tear] your clothes—but rend your heart—”tear it open,” so to speak, making it big enough to hold not just your own needs, but the needs of others too. 

   With this, the example of the Congress in Washington comes to mind in their current tendency to turn in on themselves, striving to simply care only for our country, in a selfish way, ignoring our responsibilities to others in this world, to share, to lift up, so that more can have what many of us have, the basics of life, that those without, can only dream of!

   Shifting back now to today’s 1^st and 2^nd readings we see that they are basically about being saved—the Genesis reading is about Noah and the Flood, an event that kills every living thing—people, animals, and plants, except for those that made it into the ark.  Peter follows with a reading comparing the flood waters to those of baptism and of how “water” has the possibility of cleansing—saving us, as it were. 

   Now whether you hold faith in the fact, that on the surface of the story from Genesis, God caused the flood to basically wipe out all that was evil, except for Noah and his family and the other creatures aboard the ark; there is a larger story that we should hold onto as we move once again into the holy season of Lent.

     Suffice it to say that stories of floods and other natural disasters in the times when the Old Testament books were written, were ways to describe events that possibly happened, but that the people didn’t understand.  And what they didn’t understand and couldn’t explain were put into the realm of God for cause and effect.

   So the larger story that we should hold onto from Noah and the Flood is that at the end of the devastation, we are told that God gives the sign of the “rainbow” and of how when a rainbow appears, from that day forward, it should remind the people of the covenant made between God and humans for all time. 

   The rainbow basically says—in its beauty, that our God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.  An additional piece, in the beauty of the rainbow, would be for us beautiful creatures, given birth and a chance at a human experience, through the magnitude of our loving God, to treat our world, all created life—plants, animals, to say nothing of people, with great reverence and care, that I alluded to earlier.   

   That is why, on a social plane, it is important, and necessary, for our country to be part of the international projects like the Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization (WHO)—one that works with all countries involved to see that equity exists between all peoples—both on matters of health—and working with other countries for the good of our planet—it just can’t be about us, anymore!

   It is important my friends to always, as Christians, as followers of our brother Jesus, to walk in his path, to accept and believe in the God that he shows us through his life among us.  His “Abba,” a very relational word, akin to “loving parent” is one who loves each of us unconditionally, Jesus tells us, so to accept then, and believe in a god who would destroy all of creation out of anger and lack of patience with those this same god made “imperfect” in the first place, doesn’t seem to jive with the God of Jesus.

  Jesus, in Mark’s gospel says basically the same, “This is the time of fulfillment—change your hearts and your minds.”  And being Jesus’ followers—will always mean, going deeper.  Looking back a final time at the story of the flood, we can only imagine the damage that such a catastrophic event caused—the chaos really.   Our present-day world has experienced floods that we have named “catastrophic” and the news media has shown us the devastation.

   My friends, Lent is a wonderful time that calls us each year to come to remember, if we have forgotten, our place in all of creation.  We need to remember that the earth, in all its beauty, is not only for our use, but for all our human sisters and brothers, our animal sisters and brothers too, as Francis of Assisi would name them.  If we don’t remember “our place,” it is possible that the “chaos” spoken of in the Genesis reading today could visit us in our time, as in the fires across Canada this past year and climate change that has brought fiercer storms of all kinds.   

   Lent is also a time to look at the inequality we allow to exist in our great country due to racism, sexism, and the like.  My friends, perhaps this Lent, we might choose to, spend, “a bit more time in the desert” with Jesus, whether we do that through more prayer, more reading, more “giving up” or more “giving to”—whatever it might be as we bring into clearer focus who we are as individuals, what our true place in this grand universe is, and where we may have been remiss in sharing our gifts with others.

A blessed Lent to all as we discover what is our piece to do for the good of all.  Amen?  Amen!

      My friends, here we are, this year, on the cusp of Lent, our annual pilgrimage with our brother Jesus, as he completes his journey of love—conveying his Abba God’s over-the-top love for each of us.  More on this as we move into Lent beginning on this coming (Ash) Wednesday. 

   As I said earlier in the bulletin, Lent begins on our national day of love this year, Valentines’ Day.  Some may be grousing about this fact, but from a spiritual perspective, I think it is awesome to connect the two, because when we reflect on the life of our brother Jesus, what but, love, was he about in his short, earthly journey?  But, as I said, more on that in the coming days and weeks. 

   Today’s Scriptures, not unlike many, are a bit confusing if we simply stay on the surface, with the 1^st reading from Leviticus being a case in point.  On face value and with a first, read-through, we might be scratching our heads thinking, what is the point of this?

   Here, if we go deeper, we can perhaps find a meaning for our present day.  We must first remember that the book of Leviticus has many rules and rituals for daily living of good, Jewish people.  Being that they didn’t know much about leprosy, or other skin diseases, it might have made sense to these pre-Christian folk to shun and set apart someone with a disease they didn’t understand.  But again, what does that have to do with us in a world where this disease is understood, and can be cured if detected early and treatment sought? 

   Let’s look, for our purposes here, at the notion of being, “sent away” or taking oneself away, for a time, to be at a better place.  For me this calls to mind the times when our children were young, and perhaps became upset with something that was being asked of them, or they were having a bit of a tantrum about something and couldn’t be reasoned with.  We, as their parents told them that they had to go to their room, “to be alone” for a time until they could act better—our thinking was, that their screaming and upset-ness could be done in their rooms, as long as they were safe, and then they could return when they felt better.

   We find in Mark’s gospel another story of a leper, and learn that Jesus’ response was, “to be moved with pity” – a good response to finding someone who is suffering.  Jesus does what we would expect him to do in curing the suffering man.  Then, as in the 1^st reading from Leviticus, sends the now, cured man, to the priests as Moses and Aaron commanded their people to do.  In this we see that our brother Jesus respects the law and follows it, to the best of his ability, for the good of others—or, in other words, it is always about the “people” not the “law.” 

   Looking more deeply at the 1^st reading, especially the idea of “needing to go off, and be alone” when one is found to be “unclean” is an idea that we can perhaps look at in a deeper way, as I think we would all agree that we could be emotionally, and spiritually, as well as, physically, “unclean,” and in need of “time alone,” to be cured in some way, and more ready to be with and for the rest of humanity. 

   We see Jesus’ need in today’s gospel, “to go away, alone,” for a time, because he has, interestingly enough, done something good!  I am sure there was a great struggle within him to have the people hear, “all of his message,” and not just be taken up in their personal needs for physical cures. In other words, Jesus wanted the people to “lay his words on their hearts” so that they could then, be “moved with pity” too, for others. 

   In other places as well, in Scripture, we see Jesus “going away to be alone,” to rest, to pray, to be restored.  I think this is good for all of us to reflect on in the actions we take on in and for our world—we too, from time to time, must take some moments for ourselves, to restore, to rebuild our own psyches, our minds, and hearts, to be our best.  Goodness doesn’t flow from the proverbial, “empty cup.”  Even in the example of our frustrated children that I gave in the beginning—time away allows for deeper thinking, and hopefully the realization, that how I am in the world can’t just be about me.  We also call this in our day, “tough love.” This was usually the case and when they came back, things were better. 

   Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians today fleshes out for us, a bit more, how we are, to be, for ourselves, and for others.  He tells us that basically, he wants to be there for others, doing whatever he can for those in need, saying, “I do this by seeking not my own advantage, but that of the many” – he tells them and us, “to imitate [him] as [he] imitates Christ.” 

   This notion of “not seeking his own advantage,” is one that the greater part of our Congress in Washington could take to heart.  The reason that they can get, little or nothing done is because many of them have forgotten the oaths they took when sent there by the voters—to care for the needs of all the people. 

   This past week I had the opportunity to hear and see a video of a conversation between Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the TV series, The Chosen, and Bishop Robert Barron.  I was most impressed with Jonathan’s use of the word, “humility” for how he feels in playing the part of Jesus.  He shared that before taping a new segment of the series, he always prays that, “he will not get in the way,” of God speaking through him.  I believe such a prayer should be on our lips, and in our hearts, and especially for all those in positions of leadership within our Church. 

   As readers and hearers of my homilies know, I am not fond of our bishop, but in this production, I came to see him in a bit of a different light—the exchange between these two, “men of God,” had many “light” moments as they bantered with each at times and seriously discussed the impact of The Chosen on the people seeing it.  I often find the bishop, “too much in his head” without connecting what he is saying to the lives of present-day folks.  Jonathan challenged him a bit to show us another side, which I appreciated seeing.

    So, my friends, I lay all of this before us today, challenging us, as the people of old, to do deeper, finding those places in our lives that may be “unclean” to use the Scripture terminology today—or we might say, not just right, in need of “time alone,” to become, “our best selves.”  Perhaps our prayer today could be that of Jonathan Roumie’s who humbly attempts to “play” our brother Jesus, praying that “we [too] would not get in the way” of our loving God speaking through us. Amen? Amen!

   My friends, again this week, we can sense an “urgency” in the Scripture readings for this 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  The 1^st reading from Job, while a lament to God of all that isn’t “right” in his life, his urgency is more about the mundane things of life: “How long before I get up?” I can relate to his sentiment on nights when I can’t get to sleep!

   But more seriously, Job is a prime example of a faith-filled life amid the troubles that can come to us in our earthly journey.  We all know the story of Job and the losses he experienced—the deaths of his wife and children—the loss of all his animals and material wealth.  And if that wasn’t enough, he also was afflicted with a terrible skin disease.  If ever a person had reason to doubt in God and whether that God cared for him, that person was Job.  Yet, in the fuller story that we didn’t read today, Job will not hear any criticism of God from his friends.  His stance is to believe and to hope. 

   In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we see his “urgency” playing out more so, in his “lack of choice,” he feels, about what he must do in life.  He lets us know that he has been “called” to preach and that is what he must do! From the rest of the reading today and in other places, we get the idea that he doesn’t follow his call, grudgingly, but just that it is something he feels compelled to do. In other words, he can’t imagine not doing what he is doing. 

   And, I get that notion of having to do a thing, whatever it might be, when I think of my own call to be ordained.  Intellectually, I knew, in a black and white way, that to the hierarchy of our Church, my action would not be acceptable and that there might be consequences, but for me too, like Paul, there was no consideration of, “not doing this thing,” once I knew it was actually possible, because I was listening to “a higher authority.”

   Perhaps you, in your own lives, can point to a personal decision you made that wasn’t necessarily accepted by all because something else was expected of you, but you listened to your heart, and not just your head, moving into it. 

   In Mark’s gospel today, we see “the urgency” that Jesus felt in his ministry, by not allowing himself to, “stay put,” as it were, in one place, becoming comfortable with those who, “loved and appreciated” him and what he was doing among the people there. His urgency was about “moving on,” and sharing with as many people as possible. 

   At this point, we might consider if we, in our spiritual lives, following our brother Jesus, and perhaps we could simply name it, “being our best selves,” look at what should really be, a daily task, with any urgency.  Are we compelled every day to choose good over evil? This might mean choosing simply, to say a kind word, rather than a “snarky” one in our relating to others.  It might mean choosing to do the little bit we can do, over choosing to do nothing.  Elie Wiesel, holocaust survivor of concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald said, “the opposite of love isn’t hate, but indifference.” 

   In our complaining, as Job does in the 1^st reading, do we ever consider, “being the change we want to see?” Job, in the end, “carries the faith” for his faithless friends, and that faith sustains him. 

   Paul lets us know how he follows his call to preach—he becomes “weak” to win the weak, and in fact, he says, “I have become all things to all people to win at least one.”  Robert has told me through the years of our ministry here at All Are One, we are a success if we help just one!

   But with regard to Paul’s notion of, “becoming weak to win the weak,” I have been reading a book, entitled, From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth, by Darren Walker who basically says the same as Paul. Walker says that while meeting the emergent needs of the marginalized, as we have come to call the basically, poor and those without a voice, is important; equally important is to get at the root of why people are poor, or don’t have a voice. He says, we must bring these folks “to the table,” hear their stories and let them be part of the solution.  Interestingly, this is what our board has been about this past year in attempting to get our local bishop who says he “wants to get down with the sheep,” to have conversation with us.

   Additionally, I have to say that I am saddened by the lack of vision within many of our Church hierarchy and priests who are tied to a black and white view of the importance of what we do within Church communities.  For too many of them, it is about “power and control,” and when it comes to women asking to share the ministry of Jesus with them, they are afraid. Why else would they name the calls of women to priestly ministry, “play-acting?” Clearly, they don’t understand the power of “call” in a person’s life—as in Job, in Paul, and in Jesus—it is something one simply must do! 

   Today, we are presented with three men, “doing what they must do,” and I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the women throughout history who have followed the “call,” the same as the men, but have been belittled, unappreciated, unnamed, and considered, less than their male counterparts. 

   We can begin with Mary, our mother and sister, who said her “yes” to God to do simply, unimaginable things for the good of the world in giving us Jesus, Mary Magdala (the Tower—what magdala actually means), who took the news of the Resurrection to the fearful men in the upper room, Catherine of Siena, who spoke truth to power, to the pope she was counseling, Mother Alfred, founder of the Rochester, Minnesota Franciscan Sisters, who was ridiculed and put down by several men of the Church, yet ultimately made this order of Sisters, and another order she founded along the way, to flourish, as well as being ultimately responsible for the birth of St. Mary’s hospital and the whole medical complex that came from it. 

   I call our attention to the fact that this month, Black History Month, we can remember Women of Color, Sojourner Truth, and Fannie Lou Hamer, so significant in the fight for racial equality, among others—Sister Thea Bowman and many others unnamed who almost unbelievably had to fight within Catholic orders of Sisters against racism. 

   I just began reading a new book, authored by two women, Katty Kay, a news correspondent for the BBC, and Claire Shipman, journalist, and public speaker, entitled, The Power Code: More Joy, Less Ego, Maximum Impact for Women (And Everyone).  I’m only in the introduction, but even from that, I believe they will be making the case that we are all better, men as well as women, regardless of race, religion, or anything else, when we value the work of all, uplift everyone’s contributions, instead of making it a competition, and for women, the proverbial, “glass ceiling to be broken.” 

   So friends, I believe it is good to remember that there are more women called, as there are men, to do wonderful things in this world—we can all probably name mothers, grandmothers, teachers, friends who, in their lives were most “urgent” about sharing Jesus’ and others, good news, and with regard to Jesus, the news that we each, all, are mightily loved, appreciated, and cared for by our God, and as followers of Jesus, expected to do the same! 

   And if this all seems, “too much,” Francis of Assisi’s words are fitting, “Preach at all times—if necessary, use words.” I believe Job, Paul, Jesus, the Mary’s, Catherine, Francis, and Clare, and all the others, probably did both—actions and words, and we can too! Amen? Amen!

My friends, as we reflect on today’s readings from Deuteronomy, Paul to the Corinthians, the psalmist in #95, and Jesus’ words and actions from the Gospel of Mark, along with the state of our world at present, it seems that the almost, imploring words of our Loving God through the psalmist are most appropriate: “Oh that today you would hear God’s voice,” – “to harden not your hearts.” 

   I was, as I’m sure you were, appalled and sickened, reading about the new and previously untried form of execution used this past Thursday in the state of Alabama on a death-row inmate named Kenneth Smith.  Those involved with power to do the deed nearly promised that it would be “quick and painless,” but as we know, it was neither!  It would seem that we all are better than this from the U.S. Supreme Court, that refused the stay of this execution, on down.  The psalmist today implores us, “Harden not your hearts.” 

   In the Middle East, in the Gaza Territory, the United Nations stopped short of saying that what the Israelis are doing there is “genocide,” and thus the psalmist’s words again challenge the world, all of us, “to harden not our hearts.” For me, it is hard to fathom how the people of Israel, after the genocide their own people suffered at the hands of the Nazis cannot see that they are now doing the same. 

   Our own country has seemingly chosen “to harden our hearts,” through the actions and rhetoric of many in the halls of our Congress who choose vindictiveness and an unwillingness to work together for the good of all in our country, realizing that no one “gets everything they want,” but by working together, each opposing side can get “some of what they want.”  And this is to say nothing about simply, on the parts of some, acting like human beings toward each other.  When many in this country allow the voice of one individual who consistently, as another has said, “Goes low,” to speak for them, they have, “hardened their hearts!”

   The Scripture readings for today from Old and New Testaments, speak of “prophets coming,” and that they will speak, “with authority,” [the message that our Loving God wants us to hear and act upon].  Deuteronomy says that the prophet “will come from among your people.”  Now because we believe that the Spirit is “continually renewing the face of the earth,” we must believe that “prophets” are continually being called forth, now, in our time. 

   So, how will we know these prophets?  Jesus’ words are instructive here – “by their fruits!”  In my 50+ adult years, reflecting on what Jesus meant, I have been well-served by the wisdom that when the gifts of love, mercy, justice, peace, and other traits along this vein are present, God is there, and will give that prophet the words that God wants spoken.  And likewise, when vindictiveness, injustice, basically, a lack of love are present, God is not there!

   Overall, I would say, in addition to the other positive traits that should tell us that, “this is of God,” peace of heart and mind should be there too!  But let me be clear – this does not mean that the life of the prophet will necessarily be easy, even if they realize the gift of peace within.  We only need look to Jesus, Pope Francis, and all the committee members of the January 6^th Commission, as examples, who spoke “truth to power” to be sure of this.  John Lewis spoke prophetically of his work when among us, as, “good trouble,” which lets us know that for so long, what he had to say was not always accepted, which made it much harder.

   So my friends, when we reflect on trying to make a difference in our world, where so much seems to not be right, when people the world over seem to choose the basest reasons for how to respond to what, “life basically brings their way,” we must, simply must, realize that we are so much better than the evil we see, and rise above it! 

   I saw a news piece recently that was of a man who had experienced a great deal of adversity in his life and in the past had blamed others for the life he was now living, until he finally, one day, said to himself, “I am who I am because of the choices I have made, and I am now making other choices!” 

   The 2^nd reading today from Corinthians has Paul telling the people that basically, they can be closer to God if they are unmarried (Paul’s state) because they can then have more time, “to be with God” and more quickly respond to others, unencumbered by a spouse and family. As someone else has said, “While that may be true, being “unmarried” doesn’t guarantee that the “extra time” will be used to, “be with God,” or that such an individual will respond more quickly to the needs of others.”  I would suggest that here, we are being given a black and white response, and a very narrow view of how we can respond to our Loving God, and to our world—for God is present in all the “spouses and families” that Paul seems to think are getting, “in the way.” 

   When I think of the “Face of God” that I have seen in so many caregivers of spouses, friends, and family members, I know that our God had more in mind than that the only way to bring that relationship with the Source of All Being into play was to go it alone, unattached—there is a place for both!

   Giving Paul a bit of a break though, he was in a hurry to get folks on the right track, so to speak, as he and many other followers of what they called, Jesus’ “Way,” thought he was returning sooner rather than later, and must be ready. 

   Finally today friends, just a few words about Jesus’ actions with the demoniac from Capernaum in today’s gospel.  As exegetes have told us, we certainly see Jesus’ “authority” as he acted, seemingly without fear to help the poor man afflicted, by expelling the evil one from him. 

   As we reflect on this, most of us probably think that we never experience anything like this in our lives and could never do the same.  Here, I would suggest that whenever we see something evil in our world, and we try to do whatever we can—listen to a lonely friend, or stranger, make a call—write a letter to a power able to make some change—letting them know that “we are watching,” we have done so much, “to expel the demons.”  Sometimes “our words” at a particular time are what someone else needed to make a change in their lives.  Someone once said, “the weaknesses we see in others are openings for God to enter in,” and again, as Amanda Gorman said, “if we can be the light that is needed.  Amen? Amen! 

My friends, you probably noticed that this week’s readings have a sense of urgency about them.  Our God, in the 1^st reading from Jonah, is after him to get about what God is asking of him— “Get up…go!”

   In the 2^nd reading from 1^st Corinthians, we see this same urgency in an almost dire message from Paul, as he tells the people to put aside all the daily, routine, tasks of life, even relationships with people, and prepare themselves for God (Jesus’) return, which they believed would be very soon.  Given this notion, “that God was coming soon,” it stands to reason that the need “to be about it,” was there!

   This notion was then, but how about us now?  Do we have that same urgency, now, “to be our best selves”—whatever that means for each of us as we relate to ourselves, to others, to our world?  I find that over time, “being my best self,” and here, I mean, doing that extra bit, rather than just coasting along, can be a bit of a challenge. 

   Take for example that my annual physical is coming up next week, and so this week, I have been especially conscious of what I am eating so as to tip the scales at not too great a number! Then, afterward, I will probably go back to “coasting” a bit, not as concerned about my overall wellness as I am this week, knowing that my exam is upcoming. 

   So friends, whether it is about our spiritual, ethical decisions, day-to-day, with regard to relationships with others, and our world, or on a personal level with being our best physically for the welfare of our physical bodies, it would seem that the notion of “always being ready,” for God, or our personal physician, to come, who may want an accounting of our lives, might be the best way to go. And, if only life was so easy! If only the day-to-day “stuff” of living didn’t get in the way!

   Another good reason perhaps for the idea that we can’t be so, “black and white” about living and acting in our world, as if we only need to decide once, to be our best selves! In actuality, we realize that this action—to be our best, is a conscious, every day, needed action. 

   During this Year of Grace, Cycle B, we are looking at the Gospel of Mark—a man of few words.  In this week’s selection, he simply says, using Jesus’ words, “Change your hearts and minds and believe in the Good News.”  With Mark’s proclamations, I always want to say, “Is that it Mark—anything else to go with that?” –certainly Jesus said more to explain himself! Apparently not, or Mark didn’t consider it important because the rest of the reading goes on to let us know that Jesus then moves out to choose several of his would-be apostles.

   But upon further reflection, perhaps Mark’s lack of words, in letting us know, “just how” we do this, “changing of our hearts and minds,” and “believing in the Good News,” allows for our personal way of doing this, as each of us is an individual and God will “call us” out of our personal experience—maybe, “time” is our gift, maybe “writing” is our talent, maybe “culinary abilities,” maybe “speaking” is what we have to offer.  So, with this “frame of mind,” that God will call me to “do my part,” when, and as needed, we can always be ready! 

   The chosen response, from Psalm 25, for this liturgy, gives us a gentler approach to being who we are called to be: “Make me know your ways, O God,” the psalmist prays. In reflecting on this prayer, it came to me that “humility” would seem to be part of truly, “knowing God’s ways” –knowing “who” we are, and “what” we are capable of.” 

   All of this talk today about “being our best selves,” has an added layer, it seems to me, in a world that we all have allowed to become cruder, ruder, and without simple manners, and a certain, “graciousness” toward others in our lives.  All of this is evident in our daily news. 

   In the ever-increasing “busyness” in our lives, some of the “once-upon-a-time” courtesies and gratefulness for others, and what they do, seem to fall by the wayside.  This past week, our grandson Elliot had a school assignment to interview someone, and he chose me, asking a series of quite-pointed questions, and when we got to the one about, “what I thought was different in my growing up years, from how it is today,” I gave this answer, in a simpler form, basically saying that people seemed to be more respectful of others in an earlier time. 

   So friends, as we continue in this new year, perhaps setting some doable goals, attempting to be ready at all times for our God’s (Jesus’) call for each of us to do our parts, the words of a young poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, three years ago, at the inauguration of President Biden and Vice-President Harris are gentle, yet challenging enough for us today to do what we can to better our world. Profoundly poetic and wonderfully wise she said, “That even as we hurt, we hoped, that even as we tired, we tried, that we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.”

   My friends, Amanda’s words here speak to the sense that we as a country need to return to realizing that the good of our lives are about us, yes, but equally about all others—in other words we are in this together, for each other.  I was reminded too this past week of the virtue of humility that should be so a part of our actions in the world, as I watched a PBS Nova presentation on the building and deploying of the Webb telescope that was last year sent into space so far out that if it breaks down, we humans won’t be able to go and fix it as we did the Hubble.  So far, so good, and the pictures that it has been able to send back documenting light from billions of years ago, is nothing less than profound in the immensity of our smallness. 

   Yet friends, even though small, our God has trusted us with this planet, to protect and care for, it, and each other.  This is indeed our spiritual challenge to continue the work began so long ago by our brother, Jesus, with some, simple-fisher-folk that he asked to become, “fishers of people.”  Amanda Gorman, a prophet among many in our present and past, said it three years ago like this, and it is still true today, [our] “nation isn’t broken, but simply unfinished,” and this is true for our Church too…” there is always light,” she said— “if only we are brave enough to see it—if only we are brave enough to be it.”  Our challenge then, it would seem, is to be a light, as Jesus taught, and to bring that light to our world.  Amen? Amen!