Simplicity

Luke 10:21-2

         I have taken a great liking to this show called the Amazing Race. Clues are given to teams and they race around the world. Sometimes the contestants read a clue and really over think it. In the process they are illiminated, great hilarity ensues or you sit on our side of the screen simply shaking your head at how dumb they seem.

           We all have a tendency to overthink things some times. The Catholic church is famous (or infamous) for rationalizing and creating elaborate arguments to support what they wish to beleive. The facts of the church as persented by Jesus are quite simple. the message is clear, no deep thoughts required really.  Jesus is the son of God who came to earth to show us how much God loves us. In the process he willingly died for us, all of us. 

           Some of the side show if you will, was his penchant to elaborate on who was saved and it usually involved an outcast group, the marginalized, the sick, the lame or the sinners of his day. This is not too difficult to understand.  God's love is all encompassing and all inclusive. No limits, no bounds. How could God dislike one of his hand made, special creations?

           At social hour after Mass, I ran across a young gay couple. I was quick to go and greet them as soon as they were pointed out.  I introduced myself and listened to them. One of them was in some way a displaced believer. He was a Christian but someohow had been lead to beleive he was not worthy or that by merely being gay he was an abomination in God's eyes.  What I would love to tell him at length is that it is not God who has disowned him but a man made church of one ilk or another.  God does not do such things. God is, as I said, loving with no limits and no bounds.

         If you feel trapped by some scripture passage that you are being beaten with, telling you that you are evil; or if you feel abandoned by your religion, the one that espouses God's love for all mankind; take heart. Your escape is free and easy. Bypass all the rhetoric and ritual that holds you down by one simple fact. God loves you as you are.  Your saving graces can be found in Jesus Christ. If you can know this simple yet glorious truth, then Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 

     You are loved!

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’