We are family. Almost!
The family arrives with the son
now contained in a small box which rests
on the table in the front of the chapel.
The community gathers.
Clearly a diverse group with various costumes
of clothes, skin color, age and many others.
A slightly older man in the costume of a priest sets the stage.
Soon, it is time to begin the service of farewell
At least for this life journey.
Now the first priest and two others enter in their white cassocks.
The celebration begins.
The one who set the stage joyfully declares we are all related.
We are all truly brothers and sisters.
There is no us and them
Clearly his Jesus in inclusive of all who have gathered .
He makes reference to learning from the Sioux Indians
at whose feet he also sat to learn.
It is time for the symbolic meal of the body and blood
of Jesus
A ritual to symbolize the joining together.
To symbolize that when we suffer for and with each other we
seal the bond of family
One family
Oh, wait!
Only Roman Catholics in good standing are welcome to this table.
Others may come to be blessed but may not partake of this
symbolic meal.
Really?
We are not, after all, one family?
There are degrees of family?
For a few moments I felt as if I too belonged
But no, I am a guest.
Welcome, but a guest
I know.
The price for breaking the rule is too high for this priest?
Rules are, after all necessary!
Because?
I know I should know.
What is it I do not understand?
Am I making more of this rule than I should?
After all, I see this priest embracing so many with his generous
arms and his open heart.
He brings much comfort.
He demonstrates the love he learned at the feet of Jesus.
The ritual is, after all, just a ritual having nothing to do
with the God of my understanding.
Yet, for a moment.
I thought family was possible.
Actually. I still think it is possible.
One day we will gather
sans rules to feed each other.
One day!
We will, like Jesus, just love.
Jimmy Pickett
June 23, 2017
The family arrives with the son
now contained in a small box which rests
on the table in the front of the chapel.
The community gathers.
Clearly a diverse group with various costumes
of clothes, skin color, age and many others.
A slightly older man in the costume of a priest sets the stage.
Soon, it is time to begin the service of farewell
At least for this life journey.
Now the first priest and two others enter in their white cassocks.
The celebration begins.
The one who set the stage joyfully declares we are all related.
We are all truly brothers and sisters.
There is no us and them
Clearly his Jesus in inclusive of all who have gathered .
He makes reference to learning from the Sioux Indians
at whose feet he also sat to learn.
It is time for the symbolic meal of the body and blood
of Jesus
A ritual to symbolize the joining together.
To symbolize that when we suffer for and with each other we
seal the bond of family
One family
Oh, wait!
Only Roman Catholics in good standing are welcome to this table.
Others may come to be blessed but may not partake of this
symbolic meal.
Really?
We are not, after all, one family?
There are degrees of family?
For a few moments I felt as if I too belonged
But no, I am a guest.
Welcome, but a guest
I know.
The price for breaking the rule is too high for this priest?
Rules are, after all necessary!
Because?
I know I should know.
What is it I do not understand?
Am I making more of this rule than I should?
After all, I see this priest embracing so many with his generous
arms and his open heart.
He brings much comfort.
He demonstrates the love he learned at the feet of Jesus.
The ritual is, after all, just a ritual having nothing to do
with the God of my understanding.
Yet, for a moment.
I thought family was possible.
Actually. I still think it is possible.
One day we will gather
sans rules to feed each other.
One day!
We will, like Jesus, just love.
Jimmy Pickett
June 23, 2017
RSS Feed