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March 16, 2007
Faith of our Elders
Just returned from a nursing home after a visit with our dear Mary. Mary moved from PA and was on the look out for a traditional church. All her life, a teacher, Mary is an eloquent speaker rich in vocabulary. I took her Holy Communion today and her faith and reverence truly amazed me. She prayed a beautiful and spontaneous prayer for our church, that we may be reflect the radiance of His mercy and love. We have another chaueffer, Barb who takes a big swing to get two of the elderly ladies to church, Mary being one of them. Now that Mary lives far, Barb would find it hard. But Mary said, I will be in church this Sunday.
Among such faithful, even when you serve one, you serve a thousand. In the sight of the Lord, numbers don't count. That's why he was ready to leave the ninety nine and go in search of the one. Elders like Mary stand to tell us, how they have cruised through life's journey through all struggles while banking on the power of God. Mary may not be a theologian (unlike some of them that are so much messed up with their thinking gone wild and odd), but she knows what sin and grace is. Stooped physically not in faith, she is an epitome what every priest and clergy ought to be. Her reception of Holy Communion, would put any of us to shame: the manner in which the communion service is held or distributed in some of the churches, would make us think that we have lost the sense of the sacred. Gone are the good ol' days when Holy Communion was received kneeling in almost any church. Without ever entering into the debate of transubstantiation, she knew well that it is the real presence of Jesus and Him alone she receives, His precious body and blood. Next time you look at an old timer, thank God for such faithful who have carried their baton of faith so faithfully and now want us to move forward. "Woman, great indeed is thy faith" They certainly are our inspiration even when the professed clergy go nuts.
Posted by frleo at March 16, 2007 7:24 PM
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