Think outside the box

Podcast

• Listen to this homily

Scripture references

• Isaiah 43:18-19, 20-22, 24-25
• 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
• Mark 2:1-22

Reflection

This week, Ottawa was all abuzz about the visit of US President Barack Obama.  Although his presence in Canada only lasted a few hours, this was indeed a very significant moment, his first official foreign visit.  From the moment he reached the bottom of the aircraft stairs, the business of this visit began, and within a very short time indeed, he managed to speak publicly and privately with major political figures including the Prime Minister and the Governor General, about a variety of topics which have been discussed ever since by the Canadian and American media.

Politics, like most of life, is tricky business at times.  It calls for ingenuity and the ability to think outside the box.  All decisions that are made, and all words spoken by even the most humble among us, have an effect on others.  When decisions are made by those entrusted with great authority, and when words are spoken by those who have the ability to influence the lives of millions, such choices are all the more critical, and call for an ever more honed ability to consider all options before implementing strategies that result from our conversations.

One of the outcomes of the brief visit that took place in our nation’s capital this week is that Michaëlle Jean has been invited to travel to Washington in order to discuss possible strategies to assist the government of her native Haïti, a country which has experienced some of the most widespread poverty in recent history.  This discussion and others that stem from it will call indeed for some ingenuity on the part of those who are invited to the table.

Thinking outside the box is nothing new.  The Lord prompted the prophet Isaiah to urge the people of his time to believe that despite their suffering, he was and is always present, able to take away our transgressions (Is 43:25), and to provide us with water, even in the midst of an arid desert (Is 43:19).  From some vantage points, such possibilities might appear as miraculous, but they also demonstrate a wider view of reality, and an ability to consider all options.

Ingenuity was no stranger to the people of Jesus’ time either.  Today’s gospel recounts the story of some who brought one of their friends to see Jesus.  When they encountered the crowds, and found it almost impossible to enter the place by normal means, they took another approach (Mk 2:1-4) and were rewarded for their inventiveness (Mk 2:5).

This weekend, our parish is particularly busy.  On Saturday, our halls were used by the Knights of Columbus for the conducting of two of the degrees of initiation for new brothers who have joined the Order, and on Sunday, the newly elected Executive of the parish CWL was enrolled, officially taking possession of their respective offices. 

As we look to the future, these men and women, and indeed all of us will be accompanied by the Lord who is our constant companion on the journey.  Without Him, we can do nothing, but with him, all things are possible.  All we need do is respond favourably to his invitation.  Think outside the box, and leave the rest up to God who establishes us in Christ and has anointed us by putting his seal on us and giving us His spirit (2 Cor 1:21-22).