The Hound of Heaven

In a previous blog post, I mused on how all of creation teaches us theology, lessons about God and our relation to Him.

Well, just last night a little mixed-breed dog named Laika (named after the Soviet space dog and pronounced Lie-ka) had me lying awake pondering God's love.

It all began when I woke up and realized the dog had climbed into bed and curled up for sleep with her head and fuzzy muzzle on my face.

It's her habit to sneak into beds in the middle of the night, probably because she finds little resistance from people who are asleep. Though I'm not so certain why she thinks it's okay to rest her head on my face.

I think her goal is to snuggle in as close as possible. After I gently pushed her off my face, she rested at my side -- or more like attached to my side, with every inch of her touching me.

So where's the theology lesson?

It's easy to see how dogs, renowned for their faithfulness, mirror God's love. And our Lord famously has been called "The Hound of Heaven" for the way He relentlessly pursues us.

Like Laika, He will do anything He can to get our attention. And He desires to be close to us -- as close as possible. That's why Christ became one of us and remains with us in the Eucharist.

And He not only pursues us. Like Laika and other playful pups, He wants us to chase Him, and find Him, in the adventure of a lifetime.

"Come, follow Me," Jesus says.

And in dog-like obedience, we should run to Him, our Master.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Our Lips are Sealed

A pop song from '80s has been replaying in my head since I heard it on the radio about a week ago.

I don’t know the lyrics very well, so interiorly I hum a few bars and sing the one line I know: “Our Lips Are Sealed,” which is also the name of the song, sung by the Go-Gos.

"Our lips are sealed" usually means a promise to keep quiet, but the phrase has taken on new meaning for me as it's been repeated in my brain. This week, at the same time I've been thinking about the song, I've had the blessing of being able to go to Mass several times and receive the Eucharist in both the Sacred Host and the Precious Blood.

When I receive Jesus' Precious Blood, I try to drink as little as possible, just a drop, because I know that's sufficient – for me and the whole world. And something strikes my heart in that initial encounter, when the Precious Blood touches my lips.

It makes me feel unworthy as I'm aware of its touch. It reminds me of how I've used my mouth to hurt others with my words. And its bittersweet taste on my tongue seems appropriate: the bitterness for our Lord's suffering and death because of our sins, and the sweetness of the very essence of pure Love, His blood poured out for us.

Now – particularly in the month of July, traditionally dedicated to the Precious Blood – when I think of "Our Lips Are Sealed," I think of them being sealed in the sense of an anointing, through our Lord's precious blood. And what a blessing that is!

In Wednesday's Mass readings, we heard of God appearing to the prophet Jeremiah: “Then the Lord extended His hand and touched my mouth, saying, ‘See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and to plant.’”

If God sanctified Jeremiah with His touch and sent him forth with a holy purpose, how much more has he blessed us with the touch of His Precious Blood on our mouths. We also are called to “root up and tear down, to destroy and demolish” whatever is not of God, sometimes using our mouths for that purpose.

And we also are to use our mouths “to build up” the Kingdom of God and “to plant” His word, like the sower in Jesus' parable in Wednesday’s Gospel reading.

When we receive Jesus' Precious Blood, our lips truly are sealed. We have been given an anointing, a calling. Our mouths are sacred and should be used to build others up, to kiss their wounds, to admonish their sins.

This month and always, let us adore and pray:

“O Sacrament Most Holy! O Sacrament Divine! All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!”

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

God meets us where we are

With the introduction of the New Roman Missal over six months ago there have been changes to the words we use in Mass. Today, when we celebrate the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ, is may be interesting to know that one of the changes is to the prayer the priest or deacon says as he purifies the vessels after communion.  The new wording is:

What has passed our lips as food, O Lord,
may we posses in purity of heart,
that what has been given to us in time
may be our healing for eternity.

This prayer begins with the corporal reality of the Eucharist and then brings me to the greater transcendent reality. God meets us where we are, living in the world with bodies that need nourishment. He gives us food that feeds us in the present and helps prepare us for heaven.

Fr. Cyclone

Rev. Lawrence Lynch was an Army chaplain in World War II. Self described as God's gift to the Army, this priest was nicknamed Fr. Cyclone by the troops due to his non-stop activity.

In April 1945, the 39-year-old priest found himself in a foxhole on Iwo Jima. When a nearby soldier was mortally wounded, an officer in the foxhole ordered Lynch to stay put. But Lynch leapt out to give last rites to the dying man.

As he held the communion host and spoke the Latin words for "The body of our Lord Jesus Christ ..." a shell exploded. Shrapnel tore through the chaplain's helmet, killing him instantly.

The same officer who had ordered Lynch not to go then jumped to the dead priest's side. He pried the host from Lynch's fingers and put it in his own mouth so that it would not be desecrated.

For more on Fr. Lynch, click here.

Happy Memorial Day!

First Communion

Almost 160 of our parishioners will receive their First Communion this weekend or next. As we she the joy and excitement as they receive the Eucharist, it is a chance for the rest of us to be reminded of what a special moment it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

There are several distinct aspects to the prayers today. One such focus is found in the prayer after Communion. Here the gift of Communion is our reason for praise and thanksgiving. A second focus is found in the other texts, and that is the worship of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The opening prayer speaks of the memorial of the sacrifice and our worship of the sacrament. The alternative opening prayer brings the notion of covenant to the fore, using the term "solemn pledge" in place of the biblical term. Finally the fruits of Communion are given special attention in the prayer over the gifts and the prayer after Communion. This multivalent aspect of the celebration is instructive.

In our worship of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament it is crucial that we keep all the aspects of both that presence and that covenant in our minds and hearts. We need to see how wonderful the mystery is in all its many facets.
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