Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

title: Reflection of Home.
date:circa spring 2005
location: New York, New York

From Today's Gospel:
"Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
'Your sins are forgiven,'
or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"
—he said to the paralytic,
"I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home."
He rose, picked up his mat at once,
and went away in the sight of everyone.

commentary:
How many of us have been "healed" by God in our lives? Or how many of us have had a miraculous experience of God in our lives? Or even simpler, how many of us remember the time, the day, the retreat, the event when God became real to us?

Now, think of how we responded. Or better yet, what did God ask us to do in response. Today's gospel is a reminder of what God truly wants of us. Nothing special. All he wants us to do is "go home."

I took this picture during the Spring of 2005, when I was dealing with the end of a long-term relationship. I remember looking up at the clouds that day, amidst the busy urban streets of New York City - looking at all the buildings, all the shops, all the business, all the worldliness and asking God "is there not more to life than this?" His response in my heart: "There is. Go home. Long for home. Long for heaven."

So sisters and brothers, rise, pick up your mats, and go home.