Homily - Sunday
February 18, 2018
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Mark 1:12-15 (Readings) The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Deacon David Lewis
Saint Charles Catholic Church, Imperial Beach / San Diego, CA
There are those moments in life when you have to acknowledge
that you are in need of help from someone. Maybe it’s an illness and you seek
the help of a doctor, or you need money, so you go to the bank for a loan.
One of those moments for me I was at work I had just finished
a site visit fixing a printer for a customer and as I was driving back to the
office and I went to turn onto Clairemont Mesa Blvd suddenly my Nissan pickup truck
just died, shut right off just as I hit the gas. As I went to start it again,
it just kept turning over, but nothing, it wouldn’t start all. So I rolled it
backward downhill, against the curb, as I parked it I inventoried my
surroundings. And, as luck would have it there was a Nissan dealer directly
across the street, I just needed to get my pickup across Clairemont Mesa Blvd
to the other side. Well pushing across this insanely busy intersection certainly
wasn’t an option. I quickly realized was going to need some help.
But I couldn’t justify calling a tow truck and paying hundreds
of dollars for a trip across the street, so knowing that most big brand dealerships
don’t usually have a tow truck, I was hoping the small car dealer across the
street to my left might. So, I headed
over and their mechanic suggested I check my insurance card to see if I had
roadside assistance. Well what do you know, I did. So, I called my insurance company
and they dispatched a tow truck. I returned to my pickup and awaited my knight
in shining armor in the form of a tow truck driver.
I forgot to mention that besides the two car dealerships on
the corners, the corner I was now parked in front of, was a gentlemen’s club, a
topless club. GREAT!?!? I thought quickly “Well I am in the middle of Kearney
Mesa, at least no one will see me…. Right? No…. As I stood their leaning
against my truck, I hear someone call “David”, “David!” I finally identify who
and where the person is who was calling my name, it was Mr Stutz, the principal
at St Charles School at the time. “You need help?” he asks. “No tow truck is on
the way.” and After I explained what happened, and why I was parked in front of
a strip club, Mr. Stutz went on his way, and eventually my knight came and snatched
up my truck and recommended a shop much cheaper than the dealer, and just down the
road from my office in Miramar, where they replaced the timing belt, and the
next day I was up and running again.
You see I knew I wasn’t going to get my truck up and running
without some help from someone. I knew that alone I wasn’t getting my truck
even that short distance across that major road. I knew even with Mr. Stutz’s
offer to help we were going to need the pro’s.
But also knew that if I just sat there in my truck, it wasn’t
going to fix itself. If I didn’t get out and call someone or go over to the
dealership and ask for help, the likelihood of a tow truck coming up and asking
if I needed a tow was pretty unlikely. It wasn’t until I got out of the truck
and asked for help that the situation started getting better.
Today is the First Sunday of Lent. Since Ash Wednesday we
have be in a season in which we should be ever mindful of our need for help.
Ever mindful that we are broken down, and in need of a professional. We were
reminded of this on Wednesday as we received our ashes, the minister either said
“remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “repent and believe in
the Gospel” both messages remind us that we are merely humans, and that God
still reigns over our lives. And so, we should repent for those times we have
not lived up to our God-given potential, those times throughout the last year,
and indeed throughout our lives, when we have fallen short. To repent or have
remorse and a desire for change for those times that we have not been
Christ-like.
Lent is also a season when we should focus on prayer,
fasting, and alms-giving. God not only wants us to change our bad habits, but
replace them with good ones.
We can pray: If we have been going through our day-to-day
routine without giving any credit to the blessings God gives us. When we jump
in the car turn the key and it works, when we sit down for a meal, we can take
a moment and say, “Thank you God” with a brief prayer. When we wake up in the morning,
when we go to bed at night those are great times to converse with God in
prayer. Use Lent to spend more time listening to God, perhaps by picking up
your Bible and reading some of His Holy Word, or subscribe to a daily catholic
reflection on the readings.
We can fast: If we have a food, drink, or even a television
show that consumes our thoughts when we go without it, perhaps we are letting
that reign over us as King instead of God, and it would be a good item to
exercise control over through fasting from that item.
We can give alms: Most of us are blessed with some form of
abundance, whether time, talent, or treasure. I encourage you to share that
blessing. If you have a particularly hard working, or highly attentive worker at
your favorite restaurant, your apartments, or school, particularly one that
might be in an under-paid position, bless that person with your gratitude. Give
them a compliment, or a token of your appreciation, perhaps even volunteer alongside
them. If you see someone in need, help
them, if there is something that you have been noticing has gone neglected in
your neighborhood, school, work, or even here at Church use Lent as an opportunity
to motivate you to help address it. Visit the sick, the imprisoned, the elderly,
serve the homeless, clothe the naked, or even donate the items you no longer
use and your clothing that no longer fits to your local charity.
As we go through Lent let us evaluate our lives for those
places of brokenness. Seeking to fill them with good. But if our brokenness is
one of mortal sin, let us take the opportunity to prepare for the resurrection
of our Lord at Easter by making ourselves ready for his coming again. So we are
ready when Jesus returns again. During the Lenten season many churches throughout
south bay in fact throughout the Diocese, will offer a communal penance service, ours is tomorrow evening, I encourage
to attend to see the professionals. To have you sins forgiven by the best of
the best, Christ himself.
The priest won’t come to you to ask you if you
need the Sacrament of reconciliation, you have to take the steps to make it to
confession. But once you have, you will be once again restored to a state of
grace, empowered once again to fight the temptations of Satan, and worthy of
eternity in heaven.
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
