The Joy of
Mercy Online Lenten Retreat
Day 7 – March 13
Today’s
Theme: “What Difference Can I Make?”
Today’s Scripture
And the king
will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of
these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” -- Matthew 25:40
Fr. Kempf’s Reflection
Given the enormity of the suffering in this
world, it can often feel like we have so little to offer. But we must do what
we can.
Once a woman brought her young child to see
a concert by the great pianist Ignacy Paderewski. Before the concert, she was
talking to a friend sitting next to her and didn’t notice that her son had
slipped away until the lights dimmed. As the curtains opened she saw to her
horror that her son was sitting at the concert piano plunking out the tune
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
At that very moment, Paderewski came out to
begin. He saw the child and realized what was happening. So he slipped in
behind the young boy and whispered, “Keep playing.” As the little boy played
the tune “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” with one finger, Paderewski put his
hands on either side and began to fill in a wonderful accompaniment, to the
delight of the entire crowd. They both bowed, and the little boy went back to
Mom.
And so it is with our efforts to reach out
to those who are hurting in any way. We can’t fix it all. But we can offer our
simple bit of help, and God, the master musician, fills in around us to make
something wonderful from our simple efforts.
(Excerpted
from Two Minutes Toward Meaningful Living)
When or how
have I experienced God, the master musician, “filling in around me” to make
something wonderful from my efforts?
When and how
might God be able to do this if I only gave God the chance?
Today’s Prayer
Merciful God,
make me an instrument of your peace. Help me to do my part to make a difference
in this world.
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