Homily for the 15th Week in Ordinary Time

“Zits” is the daily newspaper comic strip by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman that chronicles the foibles and angst of being a teenager and, of course, being the parents of teenagers.

In a strip a number of years ago, 15-year-old Sara is having a bad hair day ­ a very bad hair day. "I hate my hair!" Sara screams. "I swear, I should just cut it off and start all over!"

Her mother calmly suggests, "That's a great idea, Sara! I know some people who would like to have it."

"Are you kidding? Who would want to be stuck with a whole head of this stuff?" Sara demands to know, pointing to her unruly mop.

Her Mom hands Sara a brochure for "Locks of Love," an organization that makes wigs for kids with cancer.

"Wow, this is amazing!" Sara says as she reads the pamphlet. "So, this 'Locks of Love' organization would use my hair to make wigs for kids with cancer."

"Or with other types of medical hair loss," her mom explains. "That way your problem becomes somebody else's solution."

Sara is deeply moved by the pictures and stories in the brochure. Humbled and a little embarrassed, Sara becomes very quiet and thoughtful for what seems like an eternity. "Are you okay, Sara?" her Mom finally asks. Sara says quietly, "I think I'm having a maturity moment."

Thomas Merton wrote that a child only begins to become an
adult when the child realizes he or she' is not the center of the
universe. Christ calls us to embrace such moments of "maturity" - precious moments when we manage to put aside our own needs, 
problems and wants for the sake of the more critical needs of
another; rare moments when we realize that we are not the center
of the world but a part of a world much greater than ourselves,
that we are connected to everyone through the dignity we all share
as sons and daughters of God; holy moments when our disappointments and hurts at what life has handed us are transformed into gratitude to God for the gift of life itself.

As Christ sends us forth to do the work of discipleship, may he open our hearts and minds to such "maturity moments," enabling us to be disciples of his compassion and healing along our journeys to the dwelling place of God.+