(begin) Good morning. It’s getting colder every day. The leaves are falling off the trees. It’s fall when we see pumpkins, scarecrows, and turkeys. Winter is not too far away.
Who can name a movie that reminds us of the cold and winter, especially ice and snow? Here’s a hint: Olaf the snowman is in the movie. It’s “Frozen.” For those who haven’t seen the movie, it’s about love between two sisters – Anna and Elsa. It’s also about Kristoff who helps and then falls in love with Anna.
Who has seen the movie? I bet many of you know some of its songs like: “Let it Go?”… “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” …“Love is an Open Door.”… “In Summer”… and “Reindeer are Better than People.” Another song is “Fixer Upper” sung by the trolls who adopted Kristoff when he was a baby.
What did we all hear in the Gospel today? What did Jesus tell us all to do every day? He said to love our neighbors like ourselves. He also told us to love God with all our minds and souls and something else – with all our hearts.
Have you heard someone say, “I love you with all my heart?" What does that mean? It means no matter what you do – even when you make bad decisions – that person will love you with all his or her heart. That person will always be there for you and forgive you when you say you are sorry. It means that person will not have a frozen heart.
Who loves you with all their hearts? Your parents, brothers and sisters, and grandparents are right at the top of the list I bet.
Who had a cold and icy heart in the movie “Frozen?” It was Elsa. What causes a cold and frozen heart? Not loving when we should; when we don’t forgive; when we hurt someone’s feelings; when we bully someone; when we are unkind; and when we don’t help someone in need.
We said that one of the songs in “Frozen” was “Fixer Upper.” When Anna meets the trolls, this is what they sang about Kristoff. They could just as well have been singing to all us, especially all of you. Here are some of the words.
“We’re not saying you can change him. Cause people don’t really change. We’re only saying that love’s a force that’s powerful and strange.
People make bad choices if they’re mad or scared, or stressed. But throw a little love their way and you’ll bring out their best!
True love brings out the best! Everyone’s a bit of a fixer upper. That’s what it’s all about. We need each other to raise us up and round us out!
Everyone’s a bit of a fixer upper, but when push comes to shove, the only fixer upper fixer that can fix a fixer upper is… love."
When we love those around us, we fix them up. And, we get “fixed up” when family and friends love us.
Who is the best fixer upper of all? He’s the one who causes our hearts to be warm. Who loves us no matter what? Who is standing by to hold us up when we are sad and afraid? We heard him speak in the Gospel. It’s Jesus.
Let’s end by reminding ourselves of what Olaf the snowman said to Anna when he put her before the fireplace to keep her warm. Anna warned him that he was starting to melt. He wasn’t worried. Olaf told her that love is when you think of another person before yourself. Olaf said that some people are worth melting for. Jesus tells us we are all worth melting for – today and every day! (end)
For those of us with frozen hearts, this Lent let’s turn to Jesus and warm-up with love. Then let's become a fixer upper. Everyone can be a bit of a fixer upper. That’s what it’s all about. We need each other to raise us up and round us out this Lent and throughout the year. That should be our commitment to the best fixer upper – Jesus Christ.
Deacon David Pierce
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