19 Apr FRIDAY

A fine service last evening for the Lord’s Supper, we hosted pilgrim Ann Sieben, walking to raise awareness of the cause of the Servant of God Julia Greeley, a saint in progress from the Archdiocese of Denver. In turn, Ann was served by various members of the parish, in a rather impromptu manner, to meet her needs. She walks on pilgrimage with next to nothing. The self-emptying characteristic is very remarkable. Her visit became a gift from God for all of us to reflect on service to other. I was honored and humbled to include her at the last minute in the washing of feet.

i also washed the feet of a couple having their 50th wedding anniversary on Easter Sundar itself. A whole family entering the church as catechumens were foot washed. The president of our pastoral council, now retiring, whose life defined service with great humor, was washed for her journey of faith; her birthday is the Easter Vigil. This and the presentation of the Holy Oils went off very well and surely moved the people to faith and hope. I like the presentation of the oils, the accompanying full chants, and those who present them.

The procession over to the old church under the serene full moon grabbed me this year for some reason, moving back and forth from old to new and back again. The night was so still, the procession slow and deliberate.

The fourth vision of the Suffering Servant describes the messianic servant in raw terms. “No stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him.” Yet we’ve “prettified” Jesus in our art historically. It is interesting how we always want things to be “nice.” We’re so often unable to take a raw look at our human reality, our disfigurement, physically and spiritually. God does not choose the sleek, and when He rarely does, they are swiftly taught by grace, humility.