Human?

 Human

Way back in my early days of priesthood, my pastor would give the priests of the house themes for each week to preach around.  We were not all giving the same homily, but at least we were in the same ballpark.  It was a real criticism of preachers because one priest would focus on one part of the readings while others would find something completely different to preach about.  I would hear just how people felt confused because we were SO different – in our words, our energy, our approach, and sometimes even ecclesiologies (views of the Church, whether more conservative, moderate, or liberal).  Yet, in the same conversations, someone else would say they liked our variety of views.  I’m SO confused!

No, not really.  In essence, our variety of views stems from our very cell structure of our bodies.  More and more, I hear about just how unique we are physically, from our genetics to the cells to our thumbprints – absolutely and unequivocally unique, even while we are all made in God’s image and likeness.  Some scientists are telling us that since the elements that make up other planets and stars are basic elements of our world too (hydrogen, carbon, iron, amongst others), that since our bodies are made up of some of those elements AND others like oxygen, in essence we are made up of extraterrestrial matter.  It's not that we are aliens, but the concept, while questionable, is also fascinating.  That is just how cool DNA can be and how important chromosomes are.  Unlocking God’s codes is unfathomable.

That is Lent.

As a recently ordained, I was asked by my pastor to come up with a theme for the whole of Lent for the parish to focus on.  Well, one thing I’ve never waivered on is that Lent is a time for our souls to get back to basics.  It’s time for our souls to re-connect with our Creator, the Father of all, in whose image we are made.  Along the way of our daily living from the very early days of our childhood we have had a relationship with God (even those who don’t realize they do).  But as we grow and gain knowledge and develop consciences, our understanding of right and wrong really gets us in trouble enough so that we turn away from God, farther and farther.  So, when we are mark with ashes this coming Wednesday, the minister will say either “Repent and believe in the gospel” or “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”  They actually mean the same thing.

When we repent, we are turning back 180 degrees in order to remember that we are not in charge of our own lives.  We are God’s creation and HIS alone.  Jesus reminds us to believe in His words because they are the words of the Father in Jesus’ voice.  Believe in the gospel and you WILL remember that you ARE created and that we were all created to do God’s will.  The words we pray in the Lord’s Prayer remind us of that every day.  “Thy will be done.”

For 40 days beginning Wednesday, let us all make the effort to recall that we are NOT God, but we are His.  We are dust – human.  (and that's not supposed to be any reference to Crosby, Still, and Nash, NOR Kansas).