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Connections&
September 17, 2000
Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life, for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."
Mark 8:27-35
To serve, whether with Bach or pickles
Yo-Yo Ma is not only renowned as the world's greatest cellist, but, to family, friends and associates, he is beloved for his optimism, kindness and humility. He readily tells admirers, for example, that one of his proudest achievements is appearing on Sesame Street to teach Elmo how to play the violin and thereby helping to introduce classical music to young children.
A friend cherishes this memory of Yo-Yo-Ma--whose name, Yo, is the Chinese character for friendship.
When the friends wife, Gert, was dying of cancer, Yo-Yo visited her in the hospital with his cello. He played one of her favorite Bach fugues for her--and, for the husband, he managed to bring a little flask filled with wonderful scotch. He returned another day to play for her again, but she was not doing well. Gert, who was slipping in and out of consciousness, had an astonishing penchant for pickles. Her husband asked, "Gert, Yo-Yo is here. Do you want pickles or do you want Yo-Yo?" She sleepily replied, "Pickles."
Before the friend knew it, Yo-Yo left his cello and took off. He came back 30 minutes later with about six jars of pickles, all different kinds.
As his friends will tell you, Yo-Yo Ma can create beautiful music in so many ways.
CONNECTION: To put aside our own self-importance, needs and dreams to bring dignity, comfort and hope to another, to seek to bring forth and affirm the gifts of others, to seek reconciliation at all costs is to be the faithful disciple Christ speaks of in today's Gospel. The crucified, obedient Christ calls us to put aside whatever reluctance and discomfort that inhibits us from embracing completely and unreservedly the Gospel spirit of humble, Christ-like servanthood and to find the inexplicable joy of bringing his peace and hope into the lives of others.
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