The ugly duckiling

Isaiah 42:1-7; Ps 27 The Lord is my light and my salvation John 12:1-11



Today is the birth day of Hans Cristian Andersen, the author of several books including the tale of "The Ugly Duckling."



We all remember the story. It is a story of mistaken identity. A duck discovers an egg unhatched, thinking that the egg because of its size must belong to a turkey. That is right originally the ugly duckling was thought to be a turkey.

However, a swan hatches, certainly not a turkey but definitely an ugly duckling. The Swan gets picked on and begins believe it is ugly. Thus, the ugly duckling decides to venture out into the world to find a place it can fit in where it no longer feels outcast and unworthy.

Eventually through the adventure of living, the "duckling" discovers its true identity as he looks at himself in the pond and finally see himself as he is not at all as the world at led him to believe.

Here is a little excerpt of the moment of discovery

"But what did he see in the clear stream below? His own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. To be born in a duck’s nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan’s egg. He now felt glad at having suffered sorrow and trouble, because it enabled him to enjoy so much better all the pleasure and happiness around him; for the great swans swam round the new-comer, and stroked his neck with their beaks, as a welcome."

What a beautiful tale!

How often we spend our life living someone's else reality of how they think we look rather than having the courage to find see our selves as we really are.

It makes a big difference whether we live life through the eyes of another or we finally see for our selves what was always there before our very eyes.

One could surmise if one so delighted to do so that this week int he liturgical year is a week of discovery. As we journey through Holy Week and experience the ritual come alive we begin to see clearly who Christ is, how the Father loves, and the power of the Spirit moving in and through our lives.

At the end of the Holy Week experience we should be able to see ourselves as God the Father sees us through the eyes of the son. It is his gaze form the cross that reveals to us our true worth, our dignity, our identity as children of God.

In the cross of Christ we are awaken as we see our reflection upon the crucified face of Christ and thus finally see ourselves as we really are.

This is the identity we must embrace and live fully each day anew.

We are no ugly ducklings but certainly we are grace filled in Christ.

It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives with in me.

"I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lor in th eLand of the living. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted and wait for the Lord."