Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, reflection at daily mass in Old Mission Santa Barabara with the brothers
You never know who you're going to meet at the Wal-Mart. There are all sorts of colorful characters there. I remember one trip to Wal-Mart while I was in college at a time in my studies when I was very anxious and depressed. I went to the Wal-Mart, in the middle of winter, in bright neon-yellow shorts, flip-flops with long socks, a corduroy jacket, and a whacky-patterned, Russian hat with fuzzy ear flaps. I wasn't poor, but I certainly looked disheveled. And on top of all that, I think the only item I was buying was a can of beans. I looked rough.
But a little girl checking out with her mom walked up to me in the self-checkout section and tugged at my sleeve. She had some of her mom's change which she promptly dropped into my hand saying, "I hope this helps." Her mom was surprised at her daughter and assured me "she has never done that before." While I wasn't actually homeless or poor, I was definitely hurting in my life, and I think this little girl sensed my sadness and responded as best she knew how.
I can't help but think of this little girl who went out of her way to make me feel seen when I read the gospel today. When people see Jesus, they don't run directly to him, asking for this or that favor to improve their life. No, the gospel tells us that the first thing this group of faithful disciples does is go out into the surrounding country and find the sick, advocating for their needs in the marketplace. Just as this little girl identified my needs and responded to them, the gospel is calling us to identify those people in our lives who have no one to advocate for them and to bring them into public view. And may that grace be ours.
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