Finding Coins and My Neighbor:

What a week so far (and it’s only Wednesday) that we have had here at OLMC.  I once had very close friend tell me that being a school administrator is about appearing to be a duck….”on the surface everything looks smooth, progressing and together…under the water however, you are padding like hell to keep going.”   Not only was this gentleman correct, I have found that it is surface appearance which keeps everyone calm, and the paddling that pays off the most. 

Last Sunday in the Gospel, Jesus talks about the shepherd who would leave the other 99 to find the lost 1.  And the lady, who loses one of her 10 silver coins, will search carefully until she finds it, and how both will call for a celebration for the one that was found.  “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Today’s Gospel, although a completely separate story, aligns itself with the message from last Sunday.  Today, Jesus answers the lawyer when he asks “And who is my neighbor?”  Jesus of course replies with the parable of the man going to Jericho who was beaten, robbed and left for dead.  As both the priest and Levite saw him, they passed on the other side as to not be disturbed by the opportunity to do the right thing.  Both of these Gospels brought me to the question, how often, as Christians in our own lives, do we act….live like all the characters in both stories? 

I’ll make it a little simpler….Do we celebrate the one sinner who finds Christ in our parish, families, places of work and neighborhood, or, do we stand together with our group of “Christians” and judge that single person for taking so long to turn their life over to God?  Do we love our neighbor as ourselves, more than ourselves……or, do we, like the priest in the Gospel walk on the other side of the street, stand with our blessings, our faith, our money, our homes, and our food and avoid the “inconvenience” of our neighbors suffering? 

As our days get busier and more full with the everyday issues we face or chores to complete, deadlines to meet, and social media threads to check (uh huh…), there seems to be less time for the single Christ-like acts that we need to be doing.  With all the rules and laws that we are supposed to adhere to in our lives, it can be difficult to keep everything in order.  Jesus knows/knew this so, He made it very simple for us: “Love your Lord God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind AND love your neighbor as yourself.”  Even with this one simplifying commandment, we as humans still manage to mess it up. 

So, the next time we are in a rush or decide to take part in that negative conversation, be judgmental or indifferent toward another, let us remember the Gospels we have heard this week and more importantly, apply them into our growth process as Disciples of Christ. 

Mr. Swann/Principal

OLMC