I do choose; be made clean:
Reflection 1/10/2020:
As anyone
can imagine, these past few weeks have been some of the most difficult of my
professional life. Understanding that
the decisions that were going to have to be made would forever be under scrutiny
yet, knowing that regardless they will/would need to be made with the focus of
what’s best for the organization and its’ people collectively in the forefront
would always be done. This is has pretty
much been my professional life, in various degrees of importance, during the
last 13-15 years. And though like many
of you, it isn’t something that is foreign, it still isn’t always easy. One thing is for certain, in every situation
regardless of degree of importance, it begins with a choice. I choose.
We see these
choices daily in everyone around us. Our
daily routines are full of them; when to make this merger, who to call first,
how to break news, when to have meetings, who needs to be involved in a
particular partnership, etc. Likewise,
our personal lives carry similar decisions and although we often look at them
as “less important”, it is these decisions that most appropriately shape us into
who we are. What time to get up in the
morning, what food do I eat, what shows do I watch, workout in the evening or
in the morning, workout at all, how should I dress today, so on and so
forth. These personal and influential
decisions, though internal choices, reflect outwardly as to who we are or at
least, who we desire people to see us as.
These choices can be of a more deeper value as well and shape us more
profoundly in one way or another; who do I include in my “circle”, who do I
exclude, what will I decide to be a part of or not be a part of, who will I
talk about and in what way will I talk about them, how will I show Christ
though me today or will I show Him at all, etc. I choose.
In today’s
Gospel of Luke, the man covered in leprosy bowed before Jesus and begged him, “Lord,
if you choose, you can make me clean.”
This wasn’t in any way an expectation of the man’s for Jesus, no. In this humble and understanding statement
was an amazing display of faith. “I’m
not asking that you do, I simply know that you can!” Understanding this made me think of my own
choices. Not necessarily the choices
that are made organizationally or administratively, but those which are made
seemingly by the minute each day and how these choices impact me personally and
spiritually. Jesus said to the leper, “’I
do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately
the leprosy left him.” I choose.
Imagine the
immediate response we receive emotionally and spiritually when we choose light over
darkness, when we choose to include over excluding, when we choose to listen
over being heard. Jesus was very busy
and often was moving from one area the next.
He could have easily chosen to heal the man later or perhaps, not at all
as there would have been plenty of people down the road right? Likewise, we can either choose to be “Christ-like”
now or maybe down the road…I mean there will be plenty of time for that later
right…..will there?? I choose.
“Lord, to those who do good and are
upright you show your saving power. Help
me to find your way of sincerity, patience and truth. May I always be humble in seeking your way
and enable my faith to be filled with the blessings of charity in all things.” –
Rev. John Conley, CSC
Mr.
Swann-Principal
Our Lady of
Mount Carmel School