At the beginning of Mass, I asked you to introduce yourself and describe your favorite junk food.
We all have something. Mine is French Onion Sun Chips. Golly, I could eat a whole bag in one sitting. Did you know that there are 383varieties of chips at Coborns? I counted them. Of all the junk food, one of the worst ones is the original Cheetos [hold up a bag], for they melt in your mouth. "It's called 'vanishing caloric density.” If something melts down quickly, your brain thinks that there's no calories in it . . . you can just keep eating it, forever.
But did you know there’s a reason we keep eating? As reported in the New York Times, reporter Michael Moss found food manufacturers spend huge amounts of money experimenting on different combinations of salt, sugar and fat in what they call the "bliss point." Creating a taste that that leaves us craving more, a state that will override our brain's ability to stop eating. And so we consume lots and lots of junk food.
We become hooked. And “crazy thinking” extends far beyond on our craving for Cheetos. This kind of thinking has been a problem for a long time. We get “lured into” thinking that we are making good choices, healthy decisions, doing the right thing. The same can be said for politics, social concerns and even issues around the COVID pandemic. Our brains can easily get “locked” into thinking that we know what’s best. And it doesn’t help that our computer know what we read and create an algorithm to send us similar articles. Hence we read an article, or heard something that supports a part of our thinking . . . and we’re addicted to that thought.
But what changes that thought pattern? Relationships. It’s when someone cares about you or you care about someone to change “locked thinking.” That means, trusting NOT in something you read, but in someone you know. Here’s a person I want you to know: Justin Rustad. He’s a parishioner and was Confirmed in the RCIA program last year. Justin has a COVID story for us.
When a vaccine came out I was skeptical as were many of my friends and family. You don't know what to believe and it scares a person. I didn’t get vaccinated.
On March 30, I got COVID, my chest was starting to tighten. Breathing took a little more work. I was tiring quicker. I woke up to what felt like a ratchet strap tightened around my rib cage. Breathing was definitely a chore. Over the next few days I fought what was the greatest struggle I have ever faced in my entire life! Breathing was difficult and laboring. Food had no taste My fever was as high as 102.1 and I absolutely froze.
I had to wait around 90 days before I could get a vaccine due to the antibodies in my system. Now with this Delta variant on it's way I'm told that this disease makes what I had look like the baby version. After going through this once I can say I completely understand how this disease can kill someone. Especially if they have any underlying heath conditions. At this point I WILL be getting vaccinated.
Many people have stated that they won’t get vaccinated for a variety of reasons. I want to acknowledge their positions, but I want to acknowledge another position . . . love. I, as pastor, love you parishioners. And I‘m curious what you think about the vaccines for COVID-19. So after the Mass today, I want to listen. We have asked a doctor to help me listen and to respond to any questions you have.
You see, this is all about love. It’s not to say that people not-yet-vaccinated don’t love. Of course not. But as the author of the second reading wrote, We are all to “Live in love.” And as the writes says, as Jesus handed himself over to die for us out of love, so we are called into the same kind of response. Not to think of ourselves but of others. This happens in solid marriages. One spouse doesn’t just make a big decision without thinking of the effect on the other. Rather, they act from love. with love, through love.
Pope Francis weighed in on vaccines this past Wednesday. He said, "Being vaccinated is an act of love. … love for oneself, love for one's family, friends and love for all people, When each individual makes a small act of charity, like getting the COVID-19 vaccine, every gesture added together can transform the world.”
And love is what transforms the world. And perhaps love is what will transform COVID.
Not threats, not arguing, not articles that we’ve read. Love.
On Sunday, from 10:30-1:30 we have a COVID vaccination clinic right here at church. I have a question for those of you not yet vaccinated. Actually, it’s such a good question that it goes beyond vaccinations, but applies to anything . . . relationships, work, selling a home, going out for a sport. You see, in dealing with “that issue” in your life we can always find the quick fix, the cheesy response [hold up Cheetos] or the simply on-line solution that we want to hear . . . or ask yourself one question concerning that thing, “How is my decision loving?”
Another way of saying that is, “What would Jesus do?”