There are times, when all of us have trouble getting someone’s attention.  It’s frustrating.  It’s upsetting.  It’ll make you mad.  And whether it’s trying to hail a cab in the city or getting through to customer service on the phone, being ignored, or even feeling ignored, is NOT a pleasant experience.  Unfortunately today, we all know what that’s like.

      It reminds me of the story of the older gentleman and his wife, who were getting ready for bed one night.  The wife had gone upstairs to their bedroom, while the husband was turning off the lights downstairs and locking up the house.  And all of a sudden, the wife yelled down, “Honey, you left the light on in shed out in the backyard.”  The man looked out their kitchen window, and his wife was right, the light was on, but from his view, he could see why.  Three men were carrying tools and other things out of their shed, and putting them into a van.  The man grabbed the phone, and dialed 9-1-1.  “What your emergency?” the dispatcher asked.  “Three men have broken into my shed and are stealing my tools, and they’re doing it right now,” the man said.  The dispatcher said, “All of our units are busy right now.  Please give me your name and address and we’ll send someone as soon as possible, hopefully in the next hour.”  The man couldn’t believe it.  The thieves were right there in his backyard, still loading his things into their van.  After a couple a minutes, he got an idea.  He then called 9-1-1 back.  The dispatcher answered again with “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”  This time the old man said, “Oh I just wanted to let somebody know, that I took care of those thieves in my shed.  I shot all three of them.  They’re laying in the backyard bleeding like stuck pigs.  We won’t be needed the police any more.  Thank you.”  Well, five minutes later, six police cars and one SWAT truck show up.  There are two helicopters flying overhead.  And over thirty cops and emergency personnel are on the scene, and they arrest the three thieves, who are still carrying things out of the shed when they arrive.   The lead detective says, “Hey, I thought you told us that you shot these guys?”   And the old man said, “I thought you told me that all of your units were busy right now and that nobody would be available for the next hour?”

      Nobody likes to be ignored.   Sometimes we all have to go to some extremes to get other’s attention.

      Today, we hear the extremes that God went to, to get our attention.  Throughout the Old Testament, God kept trying to get to His people.  Burning bushes, stone tablets, lots of prophets, and covenant after covenant, and still, God couldn’t get through to His people.  Israel ignored God time and time again.

      But how can you ignore a God Who went through this, for all of us?   How can you hear this story and not be moved?  God forever got our attention on a hill outside of Jerusalem called Calvary, two thousand years ago.  He should still have our attention today because of what He did back then.  Does He?  Does God have your undivided attention?  Are you listening to Him in your life?   Do you realize what God has done for you,  and for me, on that cross?  The cross was a radical move designed to get our attention.  Wouldn’t it be shame if all of God’s efforts were wasted.

May God bless us and wake us up this Holy Week,  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…AMEN !!!

St. Maria Goretti…Pray for us !!!