Who are we waiting for?

"For this people's heart has grown dull,and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed,lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." Matthew 13:15

Ever since I have been a child, I have loved the Charlie Brown cartoon episodes that come on television. The Christmas one is my favorite, followed by the Halloween episode where Linus waits out in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin while the other children go trick or treating. He convinces Charlie Brown's sister Sally to wait with him. He tells her if they are sincere enough, the Great Pumpkin will come and bring them presents. He faints away when he sees what he thinks is the Great Pumpkin but instead is Snoopy sneaking through the patch. Sally is beside herself with anger. She feels robbed. Linus bears the brunt of her anger and everyone else's ridicule. He is a child with a great faith, misguided though it may be.

Jesus is questioned why he tells stories to the disciples rather than telling them the plain truth. He uses stories to help pry loose their eyes, ears and hearts which have turned cold to God's love in their lives. The Great Pumpkin is on the surface a story of childhood fantasy and popularity. But it is also a story of faith - for at Christmas it is Linus who knows the true story of Christmas - the coming of Jesus into the world. So even, misguided Linus can teach us with his open heart. Jesus was often saddened by people's indifference and lack of hearing.

May today be a day of sincere faith, knowing that God, throughout the ages has been aching for us to turn and listen. To turn and see. For God promises to heal us if we listen, see and wait upon God with a childlike faith. May we all be open so God's compassion and healing might grow in our world.