We are called to love one another — with all of our imperfections

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings by Father Perry.

+ Sayings say a lot. Sayings express sometimes great emotion or great resolve.

For example, the British have a saying: “Keep a stiff upper lip.” A sign of weakness is trembling of the upper lip, so “Keep a stiff upper lip.”

It sounds a little odd, but it says a whole bunch about remaining resolute and unemotional when faced with adversity.

Hang in there — “You haven’t yet shed any blood”; “For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines.”

They all say the same thing; so, don’t wimp out, you wimps!

+ There is another saying: “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

It is a strange but true reality that when people find out more and more and more about someone, they can often begin to become uncomfortable with them, begin to lose respect or appreciation for them, begin to not like being around them, or simply begin to have contempt for them.

And so even for Jesus, as the people of the little village of Nazareth got to know Jesus more and more and more and his extended family, they thought they knew it all — “We know who he is”; “He’s not all that great.” “Who does he think he is anyway?”

And Jesus accepted the also well-known fact and stated it clearly: “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

And sadly he was not able to perform any mighty deeds, just a little curing and healing here and there.

How sad! How sad Jesus was!

Actually, he was amazed at their lack of faith!

+ Lord Jesus, give me amazing intimacy with you and you with me! But, take away any familiarity, lest I ever breed contempt!

+ And that goes for “church,” also.

We are sinners! We are very imperfect! We make and have made little and big mistakes! But we are called not only to not have contempt, jealousy, anger, and resentment against one another (church) but, rather, are called to “love” one another — with all of our imperfections.

We are called to go beyond familiarity (which we have a lot of) and “land on love.”

For after all, “Where there is love, there is God.”

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.