Sirach 38:1-8
It's interesting to me how this reading appears for us as we enter Lent and as I delve into a book entitled Coming out as Sacrament.
One of the purposes of Lent it seems to me is to fully embrace our humanity which is certainly what Jesus did. It reminds me of that common expression "what would Jesus do?". The answer is embrace life! as Jesus did! As St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is a human being fully alive". Cooperating with God as we were created with all our myriad talents as individuals is crucial to our redemption and God's plan not just for us as individuals but also for all of his created world. We should never underestimate how powerful that is. We do not have the capacity to see the fruits of our cooperation within God's plan. The effect of our accepting who we are and our love should not be minimized.
We often refer to men and women as answering a calling as if it is some unique and higher responsibility, which it truly is. We often think of it however in terms of the religious life, being a doctor as this passage suggests or in missionary work or some such. If we do anything this Lent, perhaps we can try to acknowledge our calling by God simply by virtue of who we are. That could have so many answers. Is it being a dad? A fireman? A teacher? A nurse? A priest? a nun? We need not limit our answers either. Are we called to a seemingly menial but necessary task of society?
One question I certainly would ask on the pages of this blog is whether we answer God's calling by acknowledging, revelling in and participating in being created gay? It certainly is something to give great thought to. Gay people or anyone in the spectrum of the LGBTQ community have unique perspectives. Different ways of experiencing and showing God's love. Do we adequately answer this unique call by how we show love for each other? Can we witness good and Godly lives as a gay person? I say a resounding and emphatic yes!
Can we spend at least today reflecting on the ways in which we are called and how we can participate in that calling, respond to that calling and embrace it. Our callings are as varied and unique as the people and creations of God's created world.
Honour physicians for their services, for the Lord created them;
for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,
and they are rewarded by the king.
The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
and in the presence of the great they are admired.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
and the sensible will not despise them.
Was not water made sweet with a tree
in order that its power might be known?
And he gave skill to human beings
that he might be glorified in his marvellous works.
By them the physician heals and takes away pain;
the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.
God’s works will never be finished;
and from him health spreads over all the earth.
for their gift of healing comes from the Most High,
and they are rewarded by the king.
The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
and in the presence of the great they are admired.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
and the sensible will not despise them.
Was not water made sweet with a tree
in order that its power might be known?
And he gave skill to human beings
that he might be glorified in his marvellous works.
By them the physician heals and takes away pain;
the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.
God’s works will never be finished;
and from him health spreads over all the earth.
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