Ascension : News From The Grotto- Thought For The Week 3rd Sunday of Lent
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 11.03.2010 (Article Archived on 25.03.2010)

In the responsorial psalm this week, the last verse states:

“The Lord is compassion and love,

Slow to anger and rich in mercy.

For as the heavens are high above the earth

So strong is his love for those who fear him.”

I spent some time last evening sitting outside in the dark, just relaxing and looking up at the stars.  It was one of those clear nights when you are just overwhelmed by the vastness of the heavens, and the millions of stars twinkling above.  It reminds us of how we are so very small, and perhaps insignificant.  Here we are, on this earth that seems so big to us (as we can certainly attest to when we try to travel home by plane or ship from Ascension!), that it can make us seem small.  And then we look up into the heavens and see the many stars, evidence of entire other universes. 

On the other hand, it can make us seem important.  Because, here on this planet, in our own little world, we matter.  We are all important to someone.  Most of us are more important than we think.  Important to people that love us; people who have a place in their heart for us.  Just as we have for them.  To them we are a shining star, just like those that twinkle so high up in the sky. 

During this season of Lent, we are re-evaluating our faith and our lives.  We are being reminded in the readings of God’s great love for all of us, and being reminded that we need to share that love with others.  There are so many ways to do this, and so many ways to show our faith.  Some are small, but some are large.  And some may seem small to us, but might be much bigger to the recipient.  Some will never be appreciated at all by the ones receiving the act of kindness, or sharing of faith.

A friend put a comment on Face Book after she returned from a memorial service this week.  She mentioned Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish Sacred Society of volunteers who assist with final preparations of the deceased. Chessed Shel Emet is Hebrew for " a kindness of truth".  Showing kindness to the dead is a "true act of piety" because it cannot possibly be tinged with any hope of reciprocity. 

But what does it mean to the living relatives of the loved one who was lost?  More than anyone can tell.  Another item I came across this week was in the Thought For the Day that I get on my email each day.  This one seemed especially suitable for Lent:

“Great souls take advantage of every moment and every opportunity to give happiness to others through kindness in their thoughts; such souls are willing to overlook weaknesses and mistakes and have the desire to help everyone reach their potential.”

The underlying commonality in all this is the reminder that sharing our faith and love through kindness to others is the true expression of that very faith and love.  It makes us important in this world.  And it makes us a star that shines like those in the evening sky.

So, this week, as our Lenten journey continues, let us take a moment in the darkness and peace of evening, and look heavenward.  Take note of the beautiful stars that twinkle and shine so high above us.  Remember we are important, and can shine as well.

May God bless each and every one of us as we continue on our own spiritual journey.