Thoughts on Easter...

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."~Matthew 25:40, NRSV

I don't know that I have ever shared this so on my (at least this) blog, but I was raised a Catholic, and continue to practice the faith in which I was brought up.

Today is Easter Sunday, and like many folks, I will be spending my day both celebrating and eating with my family. Last night, for toughly two-and-a-half hours, Anne, the kids and I went to the Easter Vigil service at our local parish.

For those who don't know, Easter, the Sunday of the Resurrection, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year. The parish of which my family and I count ourselves as members has a strong outreach to the poor and homeless in our community. Because of this outreach, often there are those who obviously, through their dress and behavior, suffer from poverty and mental illness. During mass, on occasion, some gentlemen will whoop, holler, or respond at inappropriate times to what is being said on the altar.

Last night's mass was one such occasion when this happened. During the service, which included the culmination of the years RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) activities, during which time adults who have not previously received certain sacraments are given them, three men entered the building and began talking to one another, as well as walking around trying to talk to the parishioners. It was distracting to those in church and some appeared a little scared. At first, I too, was apprehensive. My son, who was sitting next me about ten rows in front of the gentlemen, pointed them out to me when they began making noises and cheering.

It was at this point that I realized what a teachable moment we had.

When my son, Jack, mentioned the homeless folks to me again a short time later. He and I watched as one homeless person (the last in line to receive communion) had gulped down the remaining wine from the chalice. Give the unexpectedly lo-o-o-ng service, and apparent absurdity of the moment, it would have been easy to embrace the seemingly odd behavior with a cutting comment. (In fact, I had been dancing around that behavior during some of the mass, something I am, in retrospect, not proud of, to "pass the time.")

Instead, I reminded Jack that although their behavior was not as respectful as it should be, it was "their church, too." Part of me also felt that maybe it was more theirs than ours... I like to believe we're all important. To me that is what Easter, as well as my faith, is about.

Happy Easter!

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!