The Last to Leave (01/27/2025)

Yesterday, I went to church as I usually do. I am sitting in the back this month because of my allergy to poinsettias. As I sat waiting for church to begin, I watched as the individuals and families entered in. I did what I do, I said a prayer for them as I watched them take their places and settle in. After church, I figured I’d be one of the first to leave, but as it turned out, I was one of the last. I stayed behind to give Father a ride to breakfast. I had the opportunity to speak with so many of the parishioners. It was wonderful. We are so blessed as a community.

I wondered as I watched people leave if they saw what I saw, if they recognized the blessings around them in the diversity of families and individuals, if they saw the gifts in their presence, if they saw Christ among them. The second reading yesterday was about the living Body of Christ from Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians. I saw that living body yesterday. Those words came to life for me!

As Father and the sacristan were turning off the lights and locking the doors, I gave the LORD a “thank you” for bringing Paul’s words to light and life for me that morning, for reminding me of the gifts that surround me in the people gathered, of His presence not only among us but in us, with us and through us. I found myself praying to the LORD to slow others down next week so that they might see Him, too.

First isn’t always best. Yesterday I found the blessing in being the last. Don’t you just love the way the LORD can make good use of anything if we simply open ourselves to Him?

As Disciples, we are on a journey. And this journey isn’t about speed but rather about discovery. On this journey we are to discover the LORD’s will for us individually and collectively. We are to discover the LORD at work in us but also at work in others. We are to look for the all-present and all-loving LORD day to day and moment to moment. We are to discover not only what the LORD is doing in us, and with us, and through us but also what the LORD is doing in, with and through others. And we are to recognize the LORD’s presence and give the LORD praise and thanksgiving.

At the eucharistic celebration yesterday, I encountered Christ not only in the consecrated bread and wine, in His body and blood, but also in his living Body.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.