I’m Counting on You! 5-29-2022

There is an ancient legend about the ascension of Jesus into
heaven. According to the legend, when Jesus reached heaven, his body
still showed the wounds of his crucifixion. His hands and feet still bore
the prints from the nails. His side bore the mark from the spear. His back
bore the stripes from the whip, and his head bore the wounds from the
thorns. When the people in heaven saw these marks, they were
astounded to see how much he had suffered. Then the angel Gabriel rose
up and said to Jesus: “Lord, how greatly you suffered on earth!” “Do all
the people on earth know and appreciate how much you went through
for them and how much you love them?” Jesus replied: “Oh, no!” “Only
a handful of people in Palestine know that, the rest haven’t even heard of
me.” “They don’t know how much I suffered, and how much I love
them.” Gabriel was shocked to hear this. Then he said to Jesus: “How
will the rest of the people on earth ever learn about your suffering and
your love?” Jesus said: “Just before I left, I told Peter, James and John,
and a few of their friends, to tell the rest of the world for me.” “They’ll tell as many people as they can.” “Those people in turn, will tell other
people.” “In that way, the whole world will eventually learn about my
love for them.” Gabriel looked even more confused now. He knew how
fickle people are. He knew how forgetful they are. He knew how prone
to doubt they are. So he turned to Jesus and said: “But Lord, what if
Peter, James, and John grow tired and frustrated?” “What if they forget
about you?” “What if they begin to have doubts about you?” “Didn’t you
take these things into account?” “Don’t you have a back-up plan, just in
case?” Jesus answered: “I did take all these things into account, but I
decided against a back-up plan.” “This is the only plan I have.” “I’m
counting on Peter, James, and John not to let me down.” “I’m counting
on the people they tell not to let me down.” Many centuries later, Jesus
still has no other plan. He counted on Peter, James, and John, and they
didn’t let him down. He counted on the people they told, and they didn’t
let him down, and now Jesus counts on us. In his book “The Song of the
Bird”, Anthony de Mello tells this story. He puts it in the first person to
give it added impact. He says. On the street I saw a small girl cold and
shivering in a dress, with little hope for a decent meal. I became angry
and said to God, “Why did you permit this?” For a while God said
nothing. That night he replied quite suddenly, “I certainly did something
about it.” “I made you, I made you.” Let’s close with a prayer: Lord
Jesus, on this feast of your ascension into heaven, give us new eyes to
see your face in the faces of those who are in need. Give us new ears to
hear your voice in the voices of those who cry out in pain. Give us new
tongues to tell your story to those who have never heard it. Give us new
hearts to share your love with those who have not yet experienced it.
And Lord thank you for counting on us. We will try our best!

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