It's only Wednesday night and could it be a fuller week already? When the weekend is busy sometimes the week is a struggle to get going. It was indeed a full weekend: 3 masses, a celebration of St. Jane's feast day, getting the grass cut and getting in an incredibly wonderful unexpected visit from the NC family. We were pleased beyond belief for this unexpected opportunity to see Jimmy, Sara, Calvin and Katelyn.
There would be a Monday morning encore as they all ventured over to my daughter & son-in-law's place for a nice visit with baby Brennan. As reported earlier, we had the very first moment ever where all three of my grandchildren were in one place. It was so cool; very special and a nice diversion for me for the hurry up solve every problem kind of Monday reality at the bank. Monday night was also unexpectedly awesome as I found out all the videos and audios of the Deacon Congress were uploaded. While I had time on a Monday evening to perhaps cut some grass or start another project, there I was in all my glory reliving the uplifting and affirming messages of the likes of Cardinal Tobin, Deacon Greg Kandra, Archbishop Gregory Aymond and Deacon Bill Ditewig. Oh yes, there are more, many more to review.
Tuesday seemed like it would be a good day, good busy at work, a short visit with Wendy in the middle of the day including a little lunch and then the ugly, the very, very ugly. As I sat down to finish a po-boy sandwich I pulled up my Facebook feed and there it was in all it's very live reality. I watched and listened in horror, not even believing what I was taking in, appalled, angry, sad, bewildered as the report from Pennsylvania came in, with full blown details and names and dates and crimes. At one point, I realized that I needed to wipe away a tear or two. By now we all know to what I am referring and the drone of report after report goes on. I also realized it was the day we celebrate a real church Priest hero, a Saint from Auschwitz, a real witness and martyr, a Saint! Maximilian Kolbe would also shed a tear over the report from Pennsylvania. Then I remembered that later that very day we would begin the celebrations for the glorious feast of the Assumption and I would be assisting at mass. I was able to confide with the Pastor and a brother Deacon just how I was feeling. And they too shared their feelings as well. I bet a lot of this will be going on for some time. Yet there it was, the sublime mysteries of the Mass, the Gospel proclaimed, the bread and wine becomes the Body & Blood of Jesus. Yes, the Church is a rock, she is spotless and perfect, yet her human vessels, even the leaders, the shepherds, are not.
Today dawned the actual Feast of the Assumption; I tried to stay upbeat. After praying morning prayers I simply went to work, got knee deep in the realities of a busy yet very successful day at the bank, read a few more articles about the scandals and then left for another opportunity to assist at Mass. This would occur for me tonight at the parish mission church named St. Michael's up in the road in Bush Louisiana; maybe 20 miles from Abita Springs. Again, the beauty of the Mass, the celebration of this feast day and the beautiful gift of the Eucharist. From the disappointment of the scandals to the sublime beautiful Eucharist.
So tonight I catch up on some more readings and continue prepping for preaching this coming weekend. Yet there still is a Thursday and Friday to praise and worship God and pray for the Church, the Priesthood, the victims, the desire for this to go away. May God forgive us all our many sins and have mercy on us. You and me, let's catch up soon!
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