Dear Friends in Christ,

There is an old Hebrew legend concerning the place where the Temple was built. It is the story of two brothers who lived on adjoining farms. One was married, the other a bachelor. Their farms were of equal size and at harvest time seemed to be equally fruitful. The wheat had been cut and was standing in sheaves in the fields. The married brother was at home, thinking of his unmarried brother. “He is a lonely person,” he mused. “He had not experienced the joy of a wife and children. I think that I will take some of my sheaves and put them in his field tonight. It will give him joy to see such a big harvest on his farm.” It so happened that, at that very moment, the bachelor brother was at home reflecting on his married brother. “My brother has many mouths to feed,” he said to himself. “I do not require nearly as much as he does. I’ll take some of my sheaves and put them in his field tonight.” The night was dark as each of the brothers began to carry out his plan in secret. But as they made their way toward each others farm, they met face-to-face in the open field. Legend says that at the spot where they met the Temple was built, for on that spot heaven was nearest to earth.

An anonymous poet has written:
In today’s Gospel Reading the fullness of Jesus’ saving mission is symbolized by His reaching out to the lepers, the untouchable ones, the social outcasts, the poor, the oppressed and all in need.

My fellow outcasts, let this day be a day to remember the unspeakable joy of realizing at the deepest level of our being that we are loved by God; that we are not abandoned; that we are commissioned by God to discover the real meaning and purpose of our lives through the experience of love for one another.

    Father Slawomir