It’s Palm Sunday and I went to church today. Nothing earth shattering about that! I dawdled the morning away and missed my chance to go to the 9:00. When I pulled into the lot for the noon Mass, I was a little surprised that I got such a good parking space. Palm Sunday is another one of those days when people make a bigger effort to get to church. But it was only quarter of, still plenty of time for people to arrive.
When I walked into church, I saw a number of pews had those big white bows on the ends. About 6 pews or so on both sides. “Oh no!” I walk into church on a beautiful and sad occasion, when the Lord’s glory is shouted from the crowds and all I can think is “Oh no!” My second thought was “That’s why there isn’t a crowd here. Everyone else must know there is something special going on and went to the earlier Mass. It’s already a long Mass with the Passion being read but we have to have something else going on, too!”
Shame on me! Had I left my Franciscanism at home? Why wasn’t I open to whatever was scheduled and embrace the opportunity to spend a little more time with Jesus? Because I was too all fired worried about my schedule after Mass and how it would be impacted. Shame on me again.
Mass began; Father kissed the altar and then spoke a few words. “Today we celebrate the Lord’s triumphant entry to Jerusalem and we have not one, but two very special groups of people celebrating with us.” Did that groan come from me? Two groups??? Oh, brother!
Father continued, saying “On my right are the boys and girls who will be fully admitted to the church at the Easter Vigil. Some will be baptized. All will receive their First Holy Communion and Confirmation.” These angels sitting in front of me were scrubbed clean inside and out and are so ready to join themselves with me and every other member of the church. The shame was starting to get a bit heavy.
And Father went on to say, “On my left are my good friends from the Coffee Club”. The “Coffee Club” is Father’s name for the group of homeless folks he has befriended. He goes to Chester every week and treats this group to coffee and doughnuts, some kind words and enough dignity to get them through the next few days. Father often brings the group to church on special holidays and feasts. They attend Mass and then are invited to the church hall for breakfast that some volunteers provide. As I looked at this group, I could see that they were not scrubbed as clean as the little boys across the aisle. They had been picked up right from the streets and brought to church. I wonder who God was happier to see visiting His house…..the angels on the brink of joining the church, the homeless folks who came “as I am” or me, the Secular Franciscan with a Tau Cross around her neck and enough shame piling up on her head to want to crawl out the side door?
How many Rules was I breaking? Article 5 of our Rule: Secular Franciscans, therefore, should seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in liturgical activity. The faith of St. Francis, who often said, “I see nothing bodily of the Most High Son of God in this world except His most holy body and blood,” should be the inspiration and pattern of their Eucharistic life.
I was sitting in the house of God with all these other people who had chosen to be there, too, and I was too blind to see that.
Article 13: As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ.
A sense of community will make them joyful and ready to place themselves on an equal basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.
I have much to work on and although Lent is down to Holy Week, I still have the opportunity to make good on the Rule I professed to follow. That’s what makes our God such a wonderful Father. He provides a new opportunity each and every day for us to return to Him, step closer to Him, take His hand.
At the Sign of Peace, I wondered if the young boys in front of me would be embarrassed to shake hands with a woman. There were no parents in the pews with them to nudge them into doing what they should. One young man turned around and extended his hand to me. And then all the boys in the two pews ahead of me all turned around and held out their hands. I’m sure they had no idea why there were tears in my eyes. But I do. And most especially, God does, too.
May you walk closely with Jesus during this Holy Week. And on Easter morning, may your soul be bursting with the joy of the Risen Lord! Happy Easter, my dear brothers and sisters!
