Readings:
Hosea 14:2-10
Mark 12:28-34
Reflection:
Theme Falling in love, those mysterious feelings, desires, impulses, that reaching out – risk taking. Questions of self- doubt emerge: Am I good enough? Will I be rejected? Are we compatible? Are we able to commit to each other as companions for life’s journey? Will we be able to forgive, show compassion and bring healing?
Lent can be a time of courtship, of gradually falling in love with God our creator. This falling in love takes a life time. Lent is a time of joyful review and recommitment.
Lent has its own rite of passage, its own rituals and symbols and colour. Our RCIA pathway is one such courtship road to eternal friendship with God and all God’s people.
In his book ‘The Little Prince’ by Antoine de Saint-Expue`ry we read of a developing friendship between the Prince and the Fox. The Fox explains the ritual of friendship. “You must be very patient. First you will sit down at a little distance from me-like that- in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye and you will say nothing…..but you will sit a little closer to me every day…..” The next day when the Prince arrives the fox tells him it would be better to come back at the same hour [so that he can anticipate the prince’s arrival]. If you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you…. One must observe the proper rites”.
“One only understands the things that one befriends [tames]. People have no more time to understand anything. They buy things already made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship and so people have no friends anymore.”
The readings today are part of the eternal courtship story. Hosea pleads to his wife Gomer (as God to us) “Come back to me…don’t let fear keep us apart…”
Jesus to the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of heaven” our journey’s end.
Allow these words to bring joy to your heart
Peter Addicoat CP. Member of St Joseph community Hobart