A woman told me she was out shopping one day and came across a delightful gift shop.
It had a lot of fragile one-of-kind items on display. She strained to look at an English village sculpture when a female voice behind her said, “Please pick it up if you like.” She turned around and saw the smiling face of a saleslady. “Don’t worry,” she said, “you can rely on our store policy.” She then pointed to a small sign – “If you break it, please tell us, so we can forgive you.”
The woman I know laughed and said, “Now that’s different! At the Pottery Barn, if you break it, you own it.” The saleslady added, “It’s wonderful! Since the sign went up, the breakage hasn’t changed, but it’s great how much more comfortable everyone feels. In fact, I took one of the signs home and my kids love it.”
As the woman walked to her car she thought, “There’s something about knowing you’ll be forgiven for a mistake or a sin that frees you up to relax and enjoy life.” That’s what God does and what our Church does. I believe that’s one of the reasons that I and many others stay and spend a lifetime with the Church.
In today’s Gospel (John 6:60-69) many of the people and even the disciples who were following Jesus left him. Jesus is terribly saddened and asked his twelve Apostles, “Will you also go away?” Peter pipes up and says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” When push comes to shove, we too echo the words of Peter.
Who are YOU waiting to forgive who has hurt YOU?
DEAR GOD, THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE OF MINE. PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I DON’T LOVE IT ENOUGH!
The woman I work with daily in Haiti who brings STEM education to students, Raygine Francois, will be going in a few weeks to bring food, water, clothes and essentials to the outlying areas beyond Les Cayes and Jeremie where the need is so great after the earthquake. Raygine’s 501©3 charity is Pennies for Haiti. If you would like to help her mission of hope, I will forward your check to her. Fr. Medard Laz, 3015 N. Ocean Blvd. 18H, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308.
