Well, after some time at the beautiful private beach here at our small villa community, and after the amazing dinner that some local women made for us, and after the Canadian group finally arrived after their long trip to Jamaica, we went to mass at a local church here. The church was small but perfect for our group size. With the camp musician, John, behind the guitar, Fr. Geoff Rose took to the alter and celebrated a really nice mass.
The gospel reading this weekend was about Jesus being tempted by Satan. Fr. Geoff mentioned a really interesting point: the devil didn't tempt Jesus with his weaknesses (he doesn't have any), he tempted him with his strengths - compassion. 'You deserve to eat... You haven't for so long....' Ad he was right, but it was in a sense cheating his way around the point. ((This is a very short description of the night... I'm butchering this but trying not too!)
He told us about a girl who actually punched him at this camp years ago when she saw the place where we will be working this week saying "how could you take me here?" as if she closed her eyes and didn't see this place, then it wouldn't exist. He urged us all to experience these things that might hurt us (seeing the poverty and tough lives that some of the Jamaicans live here) and take that challenge and act on it. It won't be easy, and it was a perfect turnaround to his closing comments: the cross that Jesus CHOSE to bear for us, and that action of complete love can be use to take refuge in and to share in that suffering.
We will have these experiences, and we will carry them forever. My hope as the leader of this group is that these experiences can be an ever-filled well for these teens to pull from, and to forever use to be more empathetic towards those who are less fortunate...and of course to act in love instead of closing their eyes.
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