This afternoon in one of the most famous 'hidden churches' of Amsterdam we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Why today, i'm not sure, but the little baroque beauty was full. A bishop and many priests from the different churches presided. The emphasis of the mass was of course Holy Communion. In a long and cheery homily, the priest spoke of this sacrament. What now resounds in my mind is that the Christ took away the sins of the the world. He compared God to Santa Claus. The fat guy in the red suit keeps a list of who is naughty and nice, as we know. To keep this list he is supposed to have a book with two pages: page one for good deeds and the other page for the less good. God, however, stated the priest, also has a book with two pages: page one for good deeds, yet the other page is blank. If we believe, if we have faith, if we do our best to live in the light of Love, Christ's Way, then our less meritorious deeds are forgiven. Grace and mercy through His Love for us makes this possible. Amazing.
I stood amazed, as if i had not really appreciated the gift granted humanity through the birth, death and resurrection of God on Earth. And, the priest continued, we are made in His image. What that image is could be literally ten fingers and toes, or His reason or His conscience. It might also be His ability to Love, be love for all things, be love for neighbour, be love as we were truly made to be. We are forgiven and so we can forgive. Amazing.
We shrink from this divinity, unwilling to accept the responsibilities, unwilling to change our lives and try, unwilling to believe that we have the strength and unwilling to believe that this is our only purpose in life, namely to grow into those shoes, walk the Lord's path, walk with wisdom and compassion through our lives on this world ... being love. Simple. In all that we are and in all that we do and in all whom we touch, God is present in us. We are his reflection, his image, here and now.
And taking Holy Communion we are asked by Christ himself to remember. "Re - member", that is to connect once again unto Him. He is present and offered to each one of us to join with him in the Trinity. There is no separation. We are united into One, one church, one people, one faith, one Love for All That Is. We shine with his divine light over everything and everyone, not judging, not hating, not arguing, but filled with compassion and the divine ability to forgive.
Amazing is the grace of the Lord. Amazing is the grace he offers us. Amazing is the grace we are invited to share in: "Go on, give it a try and be amazed", God seems to say.
Deo gratias.
I stood amazed, as if i had not really appreciated the gift granted humanity through the birth, death and resurrection of God on Earth. And, the priest continued, we are made in His image. What that image is could be literally ten fingers and toes, or His reason or His conscience. It might also be His ability to Love, be love for all things, be love for neighbour, be love as we were truly made to be. We are forgiven and so we can forgive. Amazing.
We shrink from this divinity, unwilling to accept the responsibilities, unwilling to change our lives and try, unwilling to believe that we have the strength and unwilling to believe that this is our only purpose in life, namely to grow into those shoes, walk the Lord's path, walk with wisdom and compassion through our lives on this world ... being love. Simple. In all that we are and in all that we do and in all whom we touch, God is present in us. We are his reflection, his image, here and now.
And taking Holy Communion we are asked by Christ himself to remember. "Re - member", that is to connect once again unto Him. He is present and offered to each one of us to join with him in the Trinity. There is no separation. We are united into One, one church, one people, one faith, one Love for All That Is. We shine with his divine light over everything and everyone, not judging, not hating, not arguing, but filled with compassion and the divine ability to forgive.
Amazing is the grace of the Lord. Amazing is the grace he offers us. Amazing is the grace we are invited to share in: "Go on, give it a try and be amazed", God seems to say.
Deo gratias.
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