Daily Reflection for Tuesday, March 01, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030122.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 Peter 1:10-16
Responsorial: Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Gospel: Mark 10:28-31
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
“Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age…” Mark 10:29-30
Last month there was an article in the Indianapolis Star about Maurice Young, whose life was guided by today's Gospel. Before his recent death, Maurice spent over a decade of his life serving the homeless people in Indianapolis. The astounding thing is that he renounced all and lived "actively homeless" with those he served.
His service life started after his third divorce in 2011; he decided he needed a reset and checked himself in at an Indianapolis homeless shelter. Immediately he started pouring his efforts into helping the other men staying there; when he could've gone back to his old life, he chose to live with them as an advocate for the city's homeless. Service to the homeless became his calling. Several people told me that they have been inspired by his dedication and the volume of service work he did for the homeless. He would hold office hours in the library, where he was often seen reading scripture between his help sessions with the homeless during which he guided them to available services for their needs.
Young was regarded as the "mayor" of the Irish Hill encampment south of downtown. When the homeless were being evicted, and the city demolished the camp in 2013, Young took a stand and refused to leave. Before his arrest, as he watched crews dismantle the encampment, Young held up a sign: "Worship a homeless man on Sunday and evict one on Monday?" Maurice was able to see Jesus in those he served.
During a TED talk in 2015, Young shared his story and explained to the audience that the experience of going into the shelter and choosing to remain "actively homeless" was transformative. He had uprooted himself only to be replanted and grow with "unspeakable joy" as he advocated for others.
The question we have as Lent starts tomorrow is, what are we willing to sacrifice for Jesus' sake and the sake of the Gospel?
As you serve Jesus this Lent, may your reward be unspeakable joy!
Peace and Blessings,
Deacon John McShea