God has a cape for every CAPE

Have you ever heard anyone making reference to "Chreasters"? You know, the people who come to church only on Christmas and Easter? Perhaps you have used the term yourself? I have, and really, it does not denote anything positive in its typical use. Some Catholics may reach that notch "above" being a Chreaster. They may also come to church on Ash Wednesday and Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday). Would such a Catholic then be a "CAPE"?

It's Them Against Us

I don't know, but I do know that "they" take "our" parking spots, sit in "our" regular seats, cause additional "unnecessary" planning, use the wrong responses (not "ours"), etc.

"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." - John 12: 32

Siblings of the Prodigal

When I read the parable of the Prodigal Son, it's always comforting to see myself as the returning Prodigal, knowing that my Father is always more than ready and willing to accept me and embrace me, giving me so much more than I deserve. But then, there's that brother of his. He's perfectly content with his life and all that his father has given him, until he sees his father celebrating the return of his wayward, "lost" but now "found" prodigal brother.

Sadly, I remember some of my spiritual "siblings", making remarks or comments that I found hurtful. What those were or who made them is insignificant. However, this Prodigal felt "drawn" back to Jesus despite not being a CAPE or even a Chreaster. Yes, I had really been lost for a very long time, and I'm not sure that I would have allowed myself to be embraced by my Father without some others who were able to cooperate with Him, helping me to feel welcomed and a part of the "family" again. It's true that there was much work to be done in order to mend the broken "family" relationships, but I am thankful for those who helped me to feel welcomed again.

So it especially hurts me when I recognize that I may not have always extended the same welcome to others. Even if I didn't verbalize such unwelcoming thoughts or feelings, the fact that I thought or felt them lends itself to conviction that I did not act or speak in a manner that would make my "siblings" feel welcomed. How sad that I can ever be "that guy", that sibling.

"Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me." - Matthew 25: 45

Capes for the CAPES

This post is my reminder to myself, and perhaps to you as well, that God is drawing our "siblings", brothers and sisters to Himself. In order for them to feel welcomed, to begin their own mending, I...we...have to cooperate with our Father. That can begin with recognizing that "they" are part of "us" and "our" spots are "their" spots, and "our" responses in the Liturgy are the responses prescribed for our participation in God's work, thus they are His anyway.

After all, God has a cape for every brother and sister.

cape - part of a garment that fits closely at the neck and hangs over the shoulders;
Like a hug

cape - probably from Spanish capa (cloak), from Late Latin cappa (head covering); 
Like being cloaked (covered) with the Blood of the Lamb or crowned with the Crown of Salvation

cape - a point or extension of land jutting out into water;
Like "HE drew me out of the deep waters" - Psalm 18: 17

All are welcomed

...There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest. Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin. - Catechism 982

My 4 Year Old Schools Me on Forgiveness

Yesterday, I received a lesson in forgiveness and compassion.  That lesson was taught to me by my youngest child, Monica.  Monica is four years old, and I joke about her "multiple personalities", but her heart is pure gold.

I have learned many lessons from my five children throughout the years, and this is not the first from Monica, but it really was beautiful.

Monica, Brandon (7), and I were at the water park yesterday.  Both of the children had told me that they were having a great time, "best ever" to be exact.

We were in the children's playground area, complete with multiple sprinklers, water drops, and a variety of junior water slides.  Brandon was exploring some of the slides on the larger scale, while Monica was enjoying the smallest.  It's worth noting that earlier, I had worked with Monica to build her courage up enough to go it alone on the slide.

Monica would sit at the top of the slide and prepare herself to come down, "One, two, three!" before heading down the few feet that it took to reach the bottom.  She continued to work up her courage, eventually learning to close her mouth before splashing into the water at the bottom of the slide, then gradually feeling comfortable enough to get out of the slide without my assistance.

Then, Ethan arrived.  We did not know Ethan before "that" moment.  Ethan was an energetic boy, approximately Monica's age.  The other children had been patient with Monica as she sat at the top of the slide longer than most.  But Ethan was not patient with her.  At all.  As Monica started, "One, T..." Ethan gave her a hard push down the slide.  Monica, who has a flare for the dramatic, was not happy to say the least.  She cried.  She cried loud and hard as she came to me for consolation, which she got of course.  Ethan's grandma was nearby, and I was surprised that he did not receive correction.

After Monica's next turn, Ethan came down head first right behind her, slamming into her back.  Same reaction from Monica, but this time Ethan did receive correction from his grandma.  "Don't come down head first Ethan."  Yep, that was it.  If you are a parent, you have an idea of what was going through my mind at this point.  There were a few more similar incidents after that, none receiving any correction at all.

Soon, Monica and Ethan were both standing in the water at the bottom of the slide after yet another similar incident.  Monica told Ethan, "It's not safe to come down too fast."  Ethan responded my pushing her down. Both Ethan's grandma and I arrived to attend to the children, and she did reprimand him for the shove, but there were no consequences for Ethan beyond that.  "Not exactly how I would handle that!" was what was going through my mind.

Then came my lesson.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?" (Matthew 5: 43-46)

Soon after another similar episode, Ethan ran out ahead of Monica, not watching where he was going, right into some older boys also not watching where they were going.  He fell down, and it was obvious he was hurt.  Monica ran to him.  I saw Ethan's grandma scurrying towards him, and then stop. Monica was rubbing Ethan's head, asking him if he was alright, then extending her hand to him to help him up.  He accepted Monica's assistance, and the two of them walked toward the steps of the slide....together....holding hands.

I am grateful that Ethan's grandma allowed that scenario to play out as it did. I believe that several lessons were learned in those moments. I know that I was personally humbled and at the same time, very proud of my four year old daughter.

Ethan was "still Ethan" after that, but was kind to Monica and even slowed down a few times, long enough to listen to her many philosophies of childhood life and play.

When it was time for us to leave, Monica told Ethan goodbye, and the two shared a hug.

As we walked away, I told Monica how proud of her I was and what a good example she had set.  But I know God was saying to her, "Well done, good and faithful servant."