The Senior Prom

The first thing that stood out for me in today’s gospel was the sentence, “Jesus realized the intentions of their hearts.” While the rest of the story suggests that the intentions of the disciples’ hearts was for gain or status, I’m just touched that Jesus knows their hearts because that means that He also knows mine. Sometimes I do things that don’t necessarily reflect the intentions of my heart and it is comforting to know that Jesus knows my heart and He is always looking for ways to keep the intentions of my heart and my actions pure. Sadly, when I put myself in today’s gospel, I feel like I might be the one leading the argument of who is the greatest because obviously I am His favorite. 

It’s time for me to keep the intentions of my heart and my actions in check and rest in the blessed assurance that God’s love is big enough, wide enough, and unconditional enough to make each and every one of us His true favorite. The only way for us to even wrap our brains around this mystery is through humility and that is why Jesus brought a child into the scene. I noticed that He places the child by his side showing equality. Children were considered the very lowest in Middle Eastern culture so this gesture would have definitely gotten their attention. Jesus aligns himself the least of these to remind the disciples and us that He became small so that we might also become small. Our smallness allows for the bigness of God. So whoever puts the least of these at their side, equal to themselves, in the Name of Jesus, receives Jesus. Every time we align ourselves with the meek, the poor, the lowly, the unlovable, the distressing disguise, the hard to deal with, the ignorant, the foolish, the mean, the hurting, the ugly, the broken-hearted, we receive Jesus. 

This past week we had our “Senior Prom” at the Assisted Living/Memory Care facility where I work, and the experience captures the essence of today’s gospel. The residents were concerned about not having any formal wear so the staff all collected outfits amongst ourselves to bring in for them to wear. Each one looked and felt like a million bucks and this one small gesture aligned the least of these to the intentions of our hearts. We did makeovers on the women all day and all hands were on deck for getting everyone primped and cleaned up. The residents were also concerned about the dancing part of the evening because of their limited mobility. The staff also made sure that every single person made it to the dance floor for a song or two. Wheelchairs were being pushed and rocked to the music, staff members became living walkers for the sweethearts to hold onto, able-bodied residents were also helping people boogie, and there was not one person who felt like they couldn’t dance. When I stepped back and realized the intentions of the hearts of all in that room, it took everything I had in me not to stop and weep over the glimpse into heaven. The least of these were put into the high places, celebrated, honored, and served just as Jesus teaches us in today’s gospel. When it came time to announce the Prom King and Queen, by a landslide, the two most humble, kind, and “small” people in the entire facility won. It warmed everyone’s hearts because the winners were so entirely shocked that they won, which is why they won in the first place. As I look at the incredible pictures that my friend Karen took at the Senior Prom, I see the glory of God in every smile, every graceful dance move, every couple inside the harvest moon photo station, every silly hat worn in the photo booth, every fancy dress, every homemade boutonniere, and every wheelchair slow dance. Making ourselves small for the sake of the kingdom is a beautiful and sometimes clunky dance that makes everyone feel like Fred Astaire and Ginger. 

Tomorrow we celebrate the sweet little saintly life of Therese of Lisieux who is a model of this gospel. May we become small so that God can be His big amazing glorious all-loving self. May we receive Jesus alongside the least of these today, and let’s all get out there on that dance floor. It is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 455

Reading 1 ZEC 8:1-8

This word of the LORD of hosts came:

Thus says the LORD of hosts:

I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.

Thus says the LORD of hosts:  Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.

Responsorial Psalm PS 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 AND 22-23

R.  (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Alleluia MK 10:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest. 
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest."

Then John said in reply, 
"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name 
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company."
Jesus said to him, 
"Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."