As the words fell out of
my mouth, I wanted to slam the proverbial breaks on the advice I was offering a
five year old. If you’ve ever worked with children, there are times, often
poignant, when you give them loving advice and you stammer or laugh half way through
realizing as much value as there is intended for the child, they really are words
God wants to offer you in your present situation. “It doesn’t matter how many
times you fall, it matters how many times you get up,” I affirmed.
Two weeks ago, I was cleared to run and I didn’t
even bargain (that much). As I started out on my first two j-o-g-s, my gaze was
on the ground. However, if running with my sister Beth taught me anything, it’s
to enjoy running and to be aware of your form. I could hear her reminding me to
look up. Eventually I raised my eyes and started to see the way. As I was
working out atrophy and the rust acquired from months without running, I
recognized it got easier as I aligned my eyes to where I wanted to go.
Sometimes we fall and it’s because we’ve gotten the wind knocked out of us by
circumstances out of our control. Sometimes we end up where we are focusing. Either
way, it’s what we do when we fall that determines our character.
I love St. Mary
Magdelene. In particular, I love not only her conversion story but the strength
which she loved – faithful to and through the crucifixion and resurrection. In
the moment Christ stooped down and reached out to her, she had to raise her
eyes to see the hand that wanted to raise her. She could have easily refused
the hand of healing and forgiveness. But she accepted. We face this same choice
when we recognize we have sinned. Do we hold onto our sins or surrender to
grace? Do we cling to guilt or run to Mercy Himself, present in the Eucharist and
in confession? It is vital for us to know where we are headed- especially when
we fall. We are all sinners –sinners redeemed by grace – but sinners
nonetheless.
This week as we prepare
for Holy Week we are invited to recall Christ’s death not only as a historical
event but we are called to see with eyes anew His death and resurrection as a
costly sacrifice so that we might personally know that ““We are
not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of the Father’s love
for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son” (JPII) Where are you headed this Holy Week?
Clear Eyes. Full Heart. Can’t lose. It’s Go Time!
Bl. Frassait pray that we may journey this Holy
week as you always did Verso l’alto
Peace,
Kathryn Grace
Lift up your eyes, lift
up your heart. Singing Mercy will we overcome this
Oh Lord, forgive me I
want to go Home
Here’s to the people who
had our back when the world didn’t understand
In the end I gotta
choose, clear eyes, full heart
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