SECOND CHANCES

I had the privilege to be on the organizational team for a program called Space Coast Youthbuild.  The program was a collaboration between several community not-for-profit organizations with the goal to give a second chance for at-risk youths, ages 16-24, whom never completed their high school diploma, found themselves in trouble with law enforcement and having the desire to move beyond their mistakes.   The goal of the program; to guide the participants to study and earn a GED, give them life skills, counseling if needed, and workforce experience by building houses with Habitat for Humanity.

The early challenges with the program was the disparity in treatment the participants experienced between the job site, which was full of encouragement and human dignity lessons, and the college campus, where they were treated like the thugs they were perceived to be, often based on their past and the way they dressed.

St. Mark was the cousin of St. Barnabas (Col 4:10), joined St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first missionary journey to Antioch.   But when the group reached Cyprus, Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).  This incident caused Paul to question whether Mark could be a reliable missionary.  So, when it was time for their second missionary journey, Paul refused to let Mark accompany them.   In Paul’s eyes, Mark had deserted the cause and couldn’t be trusted.  Thankfully, Barnabas didn’t give up on Mark.

While Paul went on to Syria, Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, and this second chance is all Mark needed.   Tradition tells us that Mark went on to Rome eventually writing the first Gospel based on the teachings of St. Peter becoming the basic source for both Gospels of Matthew and Luke.    For the Youthbuild participants it was the difference between daily survival and developing the ability to dream of a brighter future.

What would have happened if Barnabas didn’t give Mark a second chance?   What would happen to the at-risk youths if Youthbuild didn’t give them a second chance?  What would happen to our second chances without the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Jesus commissions us to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” (Mk 16:15) There are a lot of people in need of a second chance within the Church and parish community, and there are a lot of people who were wounded by the Church that might give US a second chance IF they were met with eyes of mercy and patience, and IF they were greeted with arms of forgiveness and a willingness to reconcile.  Meaning, we have to “Clothe ourselves with humility in our dealings with one another” (1 Pt 5:5) to encourage and give, ourselves and others, second chances to enter the Easter joy.

THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE RAGING WITHIN

“A fight is going on inside me,” the Cherokee Indian said to his grandson. “It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, self-pity, guilt, resentment, false pride and ego. The other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, benevolence, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked the old man, “Which wolf will win?” The old man simply replied, “Whichever one you feed.”

There is a spiritual battle raging. In Acts we hear about a real battle as the chief priests thought they defeated the Jesus movement when they crucified him and the jailing of the apostles. Yet the promise of divine presence given to the apostles, at the time of their commissioning, secured their divine release from jail and just stirs up greater jealousy on the part of the high priests. The high priests have forgotten the experience and lesson of the Exodus. Where Pharaoh apposed God’s will to let his people go and its collective results.

Throughout history the blood of the martyrs like St. Stanislaus whom we remember today. Stanislaus, who was named Bishop of Krakow in 1072 denounced King Boleslaus’ cruelties and injustices and especially his kidnapping of the beautiful wife of a nobleman. When Stanislaus excommunicated the King and stopped services at the Cathedral when Boleslaus entered, Boleslaus himself killed Stanislaus while the Bishop was saying Mass in a chapel outside the city in 1079.[1]

Despite the high priests attempts to squelch the growing Jesus movement the angel of the Lord frees the apostles and tells them to, “Go and take your place in the temple area and tell the people everything about this life.” (Acts 5:20) A life of belief in the risen Jesus, the Christ.

God delivers all those who believe they will be delivered. The secret requirement in this promise is we need to acknowledge the need to be delivered in order to receive it. Whether we are battling literal bondage or symbolic imprisonment, God will come to our aid if we ask for help. The Gospel message is of the ultimate delivery, that Jesus is both the way to freedom from death and the way to heaven. Jesus is the deliverer. Whether our battles are physical, emotional, or spiritual only Jesus can truly set us free. We only need to ask to receive his light (the wolf that is good). Those who cannot believe and choose remain in darkness (the wolf that is evil).

Now is our Easter time, a time to see God’s Son as the source of salvation. As we approach this sacred feast, let us determine which wolf will we feed. 

---

[1] Catholic Online, https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=207

THEY DIDN’T GET IT, BUT THEY GOT IT.

The blind man that received his sight was asked how he was healed. He could not really explain it other than “I was blind, but now I see”.  He didn’t get it, but he got it.

This week’s scriptures seem to have been a similar scenario.  In the Gospels we’ve been hearing of the human response to Jesus’ resurrection.  The interesting thing for me is, in Mary Magdalene and the other women’s encounter with the risen Lord, they were given specific instructions.  Monday, Mary is to “Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and they will see me there.”  Tuesday, her instructions are to “go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  

And yet today, when the two disciples encounter Jesus on the road, where were they heading?  I’m not sure how familiar you are with the maps of the time, but Emmaus would be the long way to Galilee.  Their sharing of the recent experience in Jerusalem was a strong indication the just didn’t get it.  “Some women from our group, … astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.  Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”   

   

They didn’t get it, but they got it.

Because in the readings from Acts we are getting a glimpse of the Pentecost effect.  In receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter’s natural boldness is put to good use, as he addresses those in Jerusalem, converting and baptizing 3,000 and as he, in today’s reading, almost matter of factly, heals the lame man at the Beautiful Gate.

They didn’t get it, but they got it.

We cannot always explain or totally understand the ways of God we have experienced.  Yet Jesus gives us another example of how we can evangelize, to each other and to those around us, just like he did.  How? Share as he did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  He walked with them on their journey and entered into a friendly conversation.  This is something, I believe, we all can do, just enter into a friendly conversation.  As a trusting relationship builds, share your faith story.  Don’t impose it, share it and allow the other to share theirs.  I’ve heard story after story of people engaging their neighbors, travel partners, and coworkers, while walking, in the break room, while playing golf, or at their favorite pub.  This is an effective way to evangelize those who don’t got it, to get it.