The way we become truly
seen and heard and known by others is by sincerely expressing our gratitude.
The healed Samaritan leper illustrates this when he returns to Jesus to say
thanks. Of the ten lepers, he is the one Jesus remembers. Perhaps the others
were grateful, but they did not make gratitude into an action like this
foreigner did. He teaches us a valuable lesson as our Year of Mercy comes to an
end. Gratitude and mercy are forever linked.
Pope
Francis wrote yesterday: “Mercy cannot become a mere parenthesis in the life of
the church; it constitutes the church’s very existence.” Mercy is entering into
the chaos of another person, and gratitude is the ultimate acceptance we can
give the person who bothers to enter into our chaos. For the leper, Jesus made
himself vulnerable; he placed himself at great risk of catching a dreadful
disease ten times by touching and healing these men. When we touch the pain of
another person, we make ourselves radically vulnerable because our hearts get
touched by the brokenness we encounter. Anyone who has been through a KAIROS
retreat has experienced this? Stand please? Faculty/staff? These people know
what it is like to receive the love of God through another person and to
express that care back to the soul in front of them. We accept mercy that we do
not deserve. This return of love is what we call Thanksgiving. From the depths
of our soul, we are seen, heard, and known by someone who takes time to hear
our stories. That is what we all want. We want to belong. We want to be
meaningful to someone else and to ourselves. We live KAIROS and it guides our
actions. We live the Fourth.
Our
gratitude brings us to today’s events. We have collected food and donated money
so others may experience an enriched holiday. We want those who are less
fortunate to have a meaningful day and we want to erase the divisions that
exist among us, especially the class divisions, because poverty is all about
class. Who are the poor? It is a dangerous question to answer. We cannot see
the poor as people in a separate category from us because we implicitly put up
walls and barriers – and in our church, we do not build walls or condone the
building of walls. We tear them down, and we diligently stand up against those
who try to construct them. As a community of faith, we will do everything
possible to eradicate discrimination and injustice regardless of gender,
orientation, race, ability, or class, and we will combat bullying and
destructive words with acts of charity and kindness. Not in my church! Not in
our church! But back to the question: Who are the poor? The poor are the ones
who need mercy, and that is all of us. We are the poor. We are in this together
as brother and sister and we cannot let barriers exist among us. The poor are
not outside these doors. The poor are not around us. We are the poor, and, even
though some of us may have financial means, we give out of our poverty because
we are grateful to God for what has been given to us.
How
do we approach this issue of poverty? We make it local, personal, and we do it
by deliberately expressing our gratitude through mercy. We cannot end world
poverty, but we can recognize those around us who are working so hard for our
benefit. This eases poverty and builds bridges. Feeling thankful and saying
“Thank you” are very different. To look into the eyes of our parents,
stepparents, or guardians and to say, “Thank you, and I love you” is an act of
mercy. We may feel resistant because we want our independence or we are too old
to say such mushy words, but the effects it has on your parents is tremendous.
Their hearts overflow with joy because their son/child recognizes the tireless
love they give you each day. Your words of hope and care will sustain them
through their challenging times. Ask any KAIROS graduate of this truth. They
will simply smile, say ‘yes’, and will invite you to make the retreat. They get
the mission. They understand that this is the mission of Jesus.
You
are the center of your universe, but saying “thank you” gets you out of your
solitary universe and lets you into the universe of another soul. Gratitude
shifts us from looking at ourselves to a place where we gently, unobtrusively
enter into the chaos of another person. We behold another’s story and hold up
it up in reverence and awe and we are forever changed – bonded to the other
person who became vulnerable to us. And we get mercy we do not deserve, and we
need to express our thanks.
Find
some time this week to acknowledge someone’s efforts to provide for you. Be
creative in how you do it. You can honor a teacher by saying to yourself, “I am
going to find something worthwhile in this homework assignment. I’m going to
look for some interesting aspect of it” and then share with your teacher what
you discovered. Or you can give thanks by silently, attentively appreciating
the wisdom, the style, and the tone of a particular teacher so that you are
amazed by the teacher in front of you who is a pure gift. We honor the other
person when we listen to understand and be enriched. Or you can honor a
classmate by not telling a joke or saying something funny – because most jokes
are hurtful at their core. Instead of the joke, replace it with positive
statement, and then watch how your friend’s esteem is magnified with your
appreciation of him. And set aside some time for your brothers and sisters,
especially the younger ones, even when they annoy you, because they are seeking
your attention because they like you a whole lot and want you to see and know
and hear them. You are important to them. Schedule a date with them for some
play and recreation. You’ll notice how expectant they are because you have
decided to willingly enter into their chaos – because you like them. Being with
others is far more important that doing for others. All good things will happen
because of this. Watch and be amazed.
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These
are small steps, but they bring about bonds that prevent greater divisions from
occurring. Reach out, even though it may be uncomfortable, and speak the words
in your heart. With practice, it gets easier, and you then become known as a
silent person of transformative power – with real power to change the world –
simply because you bothered enough to be a part of someone else’s world. Thank
you for giving yourself to your education and formation. Thank you, teachers,
staff, and administrators, for being a community of faith dedicated to a
brighter future. Thank you, brother Jesuits, for your example of self-giving
service. Thank you, Lord of Heaven and Earth, for making us poor and in need of
your mercy. We do not deserve it, but that is why our hearts turn to you in
great thanks. Bless us, Lord. Bless us all. Make us one in your mercy.
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