‘At-one-ment’
“How do you say AT-ONE-MENT?” Charlie showed his mother their English take-home assignment.
“Oh, that’s easy honey. You pronounce it as Ah-TONE-MENT.”
“Ah-TONE-MENT…,” Charlie repeated it slowly in order to remember how the term was read.
“What are you studying, dear?” she asked.
“Suffixes…?”
“That’s fun, isn’t it?”
“Yes, mom, but it’s more fun if I know what the word means.”
“I’m happy you don’t settle for quick answers.” She looked over his exercises. “Have you checked the definition in the dictionary like I taught you?”
“Yes mom,” Charlie nodded.
“So in your own words, how would you describe ‘atonement’?”
“Something Jesus did to save us?”
“You mean the dictionary actually said that?”
“Uhuh…,” Charlie pointed at the definition in the dictionary.”
His mother read quietly and said, “Wow, I never thought even old Webster would include this meaning.”
“What meaning, mom?”
“The one you just said about Jesus saving us, dear.”
“Then it must be very important, right?”
“Yup, very important. It’s something we owe Jesus for. He paid for what you and I should have paid for with our sins even though He never sinned at all.”
“But if He never sinned, why did He have to suffer for it?”
“It’s the mystery of God’s love for us, Charlie. In fact, He could have chosen some other way to make up for our sins. If He decided this one, then it must be the best and something that no one else can surpass.”
“Maybe that’s why sister Angela told us to offer some sacrifice this Lent.”
“Did she?”
“Yes, mom.”
“And what are you offering?”
“I told her I won’t play video games, I won’t take more servings for dessert and of course that I would try my best to behave in Mass on Sundays!”
“Wow, that’s quite a lot for Lent, don’t you think?”
“That’s what sister Angela said first. But then she said it would make Jesus happy, ‘sides, its little compared to what He did for us.”
“That’s true, indeed,” his mom agreed.
“Also sister Angela told us not only to offer sacrifices but also to offer it for someone.”
“Did you do that, then?”
“Yes,” Charlie cheerfully responded.
“May I ask for whom?”
“First for Jesus, then for the Pope, dad and you and my siblings!”
“Thanks dear, that’s so thoughtful of you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Back to your homework?”
“Yup…,” Charlie grabs his notebook.
“Just tell me if you need more help….”
“Mom, is it also correct to say that atonement is also what Jesus did so that we would be one with Him?”
“Is that why you read it at-one-ment?”
“Well, yes.”
“I guess it’s not exactly the word’s meaning, but it can sure help us remember how Jesus suffered to forgive. And forgiveness allows us to unite ourselves once again with God, and it is in love that we are at-one-ment with God.
“So heaven must be all at-one-ment with Jesus?” Charlie asked.
“If we follow your ‘definition’ then we could very well say so,” she kissed her son.
