When People Show You

 This morning I read one of my favorite quotes from the late great Maya Angelou - "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time".  I read it right after I listened to Bishop Barron's homily on today's Gospel.  

Once again I am amazed at the contradiction that is Catholicism when practiced in the world.  The overwhelming challenge of loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable and my lack of ability be a good Catholic without constant, every day reminders.  The personal struggle I have with being rejected and unloved despite my daily praying of the Litany of Humility is real.  I am convinced that my spiritual progress is hinged upon this struggle.  

Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote letters that shared her struggle with this same principle so I can, I suppose, take comfort that I am in good company.  As a Dominican,  I am supposed to live Truth and I don't think I can do that well if I am not honest about what it costs me at times. 

I struggle with people who just don't care.  They are going to vomit their vitriol all over the rest of us and then defend their RIGHT to do so with a twisted, ugly version of Christianity that makes me cringe.  When I read or hear words of anger and hatred coming from the mouths of those who declare their love for Jesus, I want to take the easy way out.  I want to believe what they are showing me and just remove them from my world.  It may make my world happier in a way, but is that what St Dominic would do?  Is it what a Catholic should do?

Trying to reach out to those embroiled in anger and hate is difficult.  The rejection is always real.  The modern world doesn't stand for any kind of correction - I know it is difficult when I receive it - and oftentimes the words of 'are you sure you want to do that?' are harder for me to hear than 'F you' wrapped in the language of Christianity.  But both are hard to hear - you did that wrong and F you have the same sting.

People do reveal their character and I am going to believe them when they do.  What I will try to hold onto is that people's hearts can be illuminated with the Truth and then they can make a decision to work against their own character.  I know I have - my character is rooted in fear of rejection.  I work against it every day knowing I will never achieve perfection in my quest to only care what Jesus and His Church thinks of me.  I cannot do it without the Grace of God.  So I will not stop holding out hope and my hand...and if that means having it slapped away because what I witness is bad behavior?

In the words of our gal from Calcutta - 'here comes Jesus, cleverly disguised'.