A reflection on the daily readings, for Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.
+ “Whoa … does dad have a temper! Yikes! He not only took away my car keys, he also took away the car; he said I have to walk everywhere now, and he even took away my shoes!”
Yes, just an imaginary conversation. But imagine if it really took place.
Is it possible and would it be necessary to punish so gravely? Would this be the only way that I could learn?
Is it possible that, maybe not all, but at least some of the punishment would need to last forever? What does this all mean?
As these Genesis stories continue, the mystery of disobedience, and lies and blame and arrogance and deception, just seem to go on and on and on.
What we call sin really is mysterious, and oh so deceptive; it just seems to sink into our spirit and causes us to run amok.
And the worst part about it is that sometimes it seems we never learn from our sin. And that, maybe, is because we end up with shame and blame and excuses and regrets, and feel broken and like losers.
But, that is precisely where we must learn to accept grace and love.
Unfortunately, Genesis seems to teach that spanking is a good thing. Teaching by punishment and pain was thought to be the best way.
Is there another? Is it possible to guide someone with wisdom and love to see and hear the dangers of sin and to teach and guide a better way?
Oh, clearly, teaching and guiding take time and effort, and sometimes the cleverness of a “good lesson plan” to be able to reach the student of life.
But isn’t it also likely that a good lesson plan might lead the student of life to say the famous words — ah ha!
Yes, you got it; the student has an ah ha! moment and is forever changed.
Grace! Blessing! Even these things can come from sin itself.
We can learn. We can be transformed. We can change. We can become more.
I guess sin is so creepy sometimes and destructive and alters future good consequences, and sometimes it even “throws us out of the garden” and makes our futures so much harder than they had to be because we just didn’t listen.
We just did not obey and trust the words and guidance of our father or mother or even God.
+ But does not Jesus show us another way? Is not he just the perfect expression or picture of his Father?
Thousands come to hear his teaching because he just had a way of saying things; he just seemed to say things so that people understood.
His words became grace and love and guidance and wisdom.
People were so hungry for his teaching. And sometimes, they even became physically hungry.
And somehow Jesus even knew how to take care of that. And when people were satisfied, sometimes there were even seven baskets of more.
Now that’s a perfect number.
Ah ha!
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.
