Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 2020

INTRO:
A teacher was explaining the STATIONS OF THE CROSS to her class.
She got to the FOURTH STATION where Jesus meets his mother Mary on the road to Calvary.
She explained that Mary and JESUS were not allowed to SPEAK TO EACH OTHER
That MOTHER AND SON spoke with their eyes!!!!

Then the teacher asked the students: “Well, what do you think they said to each other?”

Some said:
⦁ I LOVE YOU, son
⦁ ?
⦁ I am sorry you hurt
And lastly, one child suggested that the Blessed Mother said with her eyes:
⦁ KEEP ON GOING JESUS!

I liked that one extremely well!

Children say “sometimes” the cleverest things!!
Rabbi Harold Kushner has been known to say clever things:

In his book WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

He says: “There is not one of us who are without a cross, and …….. They are all different, all heavy!”

Our Gospel tells all of us…to keep on going with the crosses we have!

Our Gospel speaks to the entire world…. Having crosses!!!
⦁ following COVID-19 directives
⦁ experiencing discrimination
⦁ having destruction and rioting ruin your livelihood
⦁ fires burning and hurricanes blowing

CROSSES are tough!

AND…..they are the toughest when we DON’T KNOW WHY we have the ones we have!

Many of your crosses I know get heavier and heavier!! Some of you have more than you can bear it seems. Crosses, it seems …….. ADD UP too.

I’m not going to be able to tell you in any reasonable way WHY you and I have these crosses to carry.

But, I am going to tell you to keep imitating JESUS in carrying them.

You and I have the POWER which comes from the HOLY SPIRIT: remember those gifts given when we were confirmed:

Wisdom
Fortitude
Piety
Fear of the lord
Counsel
Right judgement
Understanding

These gifts of the Holy Spirit need to be remembered and called upon for effective usage in our carrying the crosses we bear.

CONCLUSION:

May we embrace the faith of the cross: faith that understands that the crosses of our lives are vehicles for bringing God’s promise of salvation and eternal life.