Are we ready to quack like a duck like the true disciples of Christ that we are?

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious, by Father Perry.

+ “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck.”

We’ve all heard that saying and get the logic behind it.

Is that what our first reading is saying today? “The person who acts in righteousness is righteous.”

Sounds pretty good. But it goes further. “Whoever sins belongs to the Devil.”

We should probably leave it there, because it just gets worse.

There is just a little too much “quacking” going on here; or at least sinning.

But let’s face it, we are not perfect people.

Sin is just, let’s face it, a part of the human condition.

St. Pauls writes famously in his letter to the Romans about the condition of sin and sinning: “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.”

He nails it even more specifically noting: “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

Admittedly, this could look like an enormous copout. But on the other hand, it may just beautifully describe the mystery of sin that works on and in us.

But he continues by touching upon the grace and salvation coming from the Lord. “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death (and sin)? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

It sounds like a quacking duck on both counts: sin and righteousness.

And, surely it is true, the closer and closer we come to Jesus the Christ, and to his word; and to follow his example and to love and to remain in him, and he in us, the more likely that we will experience righteousness and inner peace and be able also to say with Paul: “Thank be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

How blessed, indeed, were those two disciples of John who simply heard John’s pointed words describing Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

That was enough; they immediately followed Jesus and sought to know where he stayed so that, no doubt, they could stay with him and be blessed by his teaching.

And Jesus, “quacking” like the great teacher that he was, told them, and quite directly: “Come, and you will see.”

And so they did.

+ Here we are again. This is our story. This is our call — today, now, every day, always.

Do we hear it? Are we curious enough to want to know where he stays?

Do we want to stay — remain — with and in him today and always?

Does his word remain with us?

Are we ready to quack, not like a duck, but like the true disciples that he so generously wants to grace us into becoming?

“Thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th 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.