Lenten Reflection for March 14th

Mister Rogers’ Neigborhood was a staple television show in our home when I was growing up. It was one show my brother and I watched nearly every day and I still enjoy watching clips of the programme. In a now very famous1969 episode of Mr Rogers’ Neigborhood, Mr Rogers broke down racial barriers by inviting Officer Clemmons, a Black police officer on the show, to join him and cool his feet in a small wading pool.

At the time in the United States violence was happening when some white people were preventing Black people from sharing the water with them at many community pools across the country.

On the programme, Officer Clemmons sat down and placed his feet in the water, right next to Mr Rogers' feet and in doing so, they broke a well-known colour barrier.

During the segment, Mr Rogers says a small but significant line which to children would seem to merely refer to the coolness of the pool on a hot day, but for adults who are listening has a much deeper meaning. He says, “Sometimes just a minute like this will really make a difference."

Mr Rogers is an example of a role-model for how to show love courageously. 

I can see how through actions like this we witness what is more specifically called caritas, Latin for a Christian love for all humankind. It’s also where we get the word ‘charity’ from. 

In John’s Gospel, Christ tells us, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

It’s not always easy to show this sort of love, we must look to Jesus for help and how we can live out his calling for us with the Gift of Courage.

The more we pray and practice sharing courageous love, the more we will be able to recognise ways to put love into action. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will never be depleted of the caritas love for others. "Love seems to be something that keeps filling up within us. The more we give away, the more we have to give." - Mister Rogers

God bless you!

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was a show from a while ago that I used to watch as a child. Mr Rogers was a very nice man who would share about many things. He would talk about our feelings, how we can talk about them to others, how to get along with friends, and how to treat others kindly and respectfully. Mr Rogers was a good example to us for how to show love.

Sometimes there are scary things going on in the world, people fighting against each other and being terribly mean to one another. Mr Rogers wasn’t afraid to talk about these things on his show. He would show those watching that people could live together in love and peace. When he did this, it often made people angrier but he knew it was the right thing to do.

Sometimes the moments when we need to show the most love and care are the moments we will need the most Courage to do so. This kind of love is a grace, a gift we don’t necessarily deserve or expect but receive anyway, that we are given by God to help us in having love in our heart for everyone.

Jesus is our role model for showing this kind of love and care, he tells us, “...love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Let’s pray that we will be open to receiving the Holy Spirit’s Gift of Courage and use it to grow in the Fruit of Love and Charity.