March 13, 2021
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Have you ever noticed how when you work hard and use all your talents to do something for someone, that you feel really good afterwards? Like when you cook a meal for someone who has been sick and bring it to them. Or, when you pick up the phone and call someone who has been alone for a long time and as you talk to them, you can see how much they really became happy because you called them? But then, did you ever think, "Did I just do that for the other person, or did I do it so that I would feel good myself? Did I do it so that others would praise me or think more of me because of it?" Well, I think that all of us have thought that at one time or another. It turns out that this weekend's readings hold the answer. I think that you will like that answer - I know I did!
We hear in our Gospel: "Whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." You and I are children of the light. Think for a moment about a child's parent. When the child does something good, whether it is to play well at a baseball game, successfully bake a cake, or mow an elderly neighbor's lawn, their parent is pleased and filled with joy. Wouldn't it also be true then, that when we ourselves do something kind, do it well and work hard using all our talents to do it, that God, our Father, would be pleased? That means then, that our actions to help others are driven by our strong desire to please God! We likely still feel good about receiving praise from others, but the main reason we are doing good is to make God happy. And that is a game changer! Because it means that in being kind and doing good for others, we are rightfully filled with joy, fueled with energy to do more!
Commenting on this weekend's readings, Fr. Ron Rolheiser notes that the famous Olympic runner, Eric Liddell once said: "When I run, I feel God's pleasure." The next time you are helping someone, ask yourself, "Do I feel God's pleasure." Eric Liddell became driven towards winning an Olympic gold medal more by his faith, and less by his desire for praise or to win a gold medal. He felt that just like any proud parent, God took a real delight in his using his gifts. He knew that when he used his God given talents to the max, that God would be pleased and joyful. From knowing this, Eric was filled with joy himself, anytime he was running with all he had! It fueled him to do even more.
This weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent which we call, 'Laetare Sunday.' Laetare means 'Rejoice!' This concept of God taking delight in our kind actions towards our neighbors, and that this fuels us to do more, is the reason we rejoice! Since we have been doing the work of improving our hearts for all these weeks of Lent, this weekend is set aside for us to rejoice. Part of our reason to rejoice is maybe, knowing that our work so far during Lent has been pleasing to God.
In our Gospel we hear John say, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." That one line sums up the entire reason for Jesus coming to us. Before Jesus came, the people were not listening to God's messages. We heard in our reading from 2 Chronicles that some of the ones not listening were the priests and rulers! This went on for years. People laughed at God's message and lived terribly. So, God sent Jesus. St. Paul in our second reading told us of how God offers to us the "immeasurable riches of grace" through our faith in Jesus. So our joy in helping others comes, not from our own actions so much as from a grace from God!
It sounds too good to be true - the harder we work for others, the more joy filled we become! Yet that is what happens when we serve others. Jesus came to us so that we would have eternal life and that begins here. Not life of drudgery and sadness, but life filled with joy. It is time to let God's pleasure in seeing you perform so well, fuel you to do even more and to Rejoice! Amen.
God's Peace,
Deacon Dave