This year, take a few minutes to reflect of the precious gift we have been given, The Gift of God in Word and in Eucharist. These three stories may give us a deeper appreciation and an increase of gratitude for the Eucharist and for the Word of God.
1. Fr. Brennan Manning tells the story of an Irish priest who, on a walking tour of a rural parish, sees an old peasant kneeling by the side of the road, praying. Impressed, the priest says to the man, "You must be very close to God." The peasant looks up from his prayers, thinks a moment, and then smiles, "Yes, he's very fond of me." Sermon Resources for May, Brett Blair, www.Sermons.com Adapted from Phillip Yancey, What's So Amazing about Grace? [pp. 68-69]
God is very fond of you.
2. 6-year-old Mortakai refuse to go to the school, when his Mom took him, he ran home; when his Dad took him, he ran home. His parents tried everything from gifts to threats, nothing worked. In desperation they went to their Rabbi, he said if the boy won’t listen bring him to me.
The Rabbi did not say a word; he held the boy to his heart for a long time and then put him down. This silent embrace accomplished what words could not. The young boy went on to become a great scholar & Rabbi. (The Sunday Website of St. Louis University, “In Exile”, Ron Rolheiser OMI, 6-7-15)
3. Here is another powerful yet simple story, in the “A Little Book on the Human Shadow, Robert Bly writes about George Docsi who grew up in pre-W.W. II Hungary and as a boy growing, he loved dinner… big plates, the maids serving soup, he loved going into the dining room.
One evening he went downstairs, and the dining room was in an uproar. Another pogrom [purge] was taking place in Russia, and his grandfather went to the railway station and brought home some Jews. Men were in skullcaps in the living room, mothers nursing babies in the dining room; he threw a fit and yelled, “I want my supper! I want my supper! One of the maids saw this and gave him a piece of bread. He threw it on the floor and screamed, “I want my supper!”
His Grandfather entered the dining room at that moment - bent down, picked up the bread, kissed it and gave it to George.” He ate it. George said, “… I think there’s a little of my grandfather in me now.” (Robert Bly in, The Little Book on the Human Shadow)
Jesus kisses the bread and wine in the Eucharistic Prayer each time it is offered. That eternal kiss transforms the bread and wine into His body and blood – the Holy Eucharist!
Jesus kisses the Word each time you read the Scriptures and reminds you of His deep, abiding love for you.
Take some time today to thank God for the gift of the Eucharist and the gift of His Word.
May God Be Praised.
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