God don't make junk

Luke 4:16-22

          God Don't Make Junk

          When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
let the oppressed go free, 

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’

        There is something almost magnetic about someone you meet or hear that is very self assured.  This is not to be confused with arrogance. There is a sauve, debonaire character about someone who speaks with assurance, authority and exudes self confidence. You might even say "I wish I could be more like that person". This type of person commands a room.

          We are called to be this kind of person. We should hear how much God loves us and think "That's how God feels about me! We are called to have that kind of assurance, a knowledge deep in our gut of the self worth we have, of the love God has for us. 

          When Jesus said 'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing' , he was acknowledging who he was. He had that self knowledge, that self assurance. It was part of his charism.

          I have often wondered how that can be instilled into someone. I wished to let every student I ever taught know it. It's not easy in a world where we get beat up and disrespected.  It seems an easy way for some to build themselves up is to denigrate others. Sadly for many that starts at home and it becomes a  shadow for most, if not all of their lives.

           Writing a blog, a ministry to the gay community, I encourage every gay person to acknowledge who they are as a first step to self respect, dignity and that self assurance we are called to have as children of God. This is true however for every creation of God. We must acknowledge who we are, embrace it and love it. God made no mistake in creating you. It goes back to a button I used to wear after experiencing a Cursillo in the 11th grade. The button says "God Don't Make Junk".

             We need to know that God don't make junk and have the respect for ourselves and every one of our fellow humans. God created them also in love and dignity. Doing so makes the world a brighter place.