Is that YOU, Lord?

There is one in every parish, it seems.

In Lodi, he's there every night at the 5:30 Mass. He looks like the guy you would go out of your way to cross the street to avoid--unshaven, wrinkled clothes (I think they're the same every day), cheap sandals on his feet. But he slips into the chapel every night at about 5:29 to listen to the Word of God and share in the Eucharist. He never kneels, never sits. Only stands with his hands folded and his eyes on the crucifix. He is always the last in line to receive Our Lord--both the Host and the Precious Blood.

In Fresno, she's the elderly Mexican lady who knows the words to every hymn, but obviously not the notes. She wears a head covering and the rosary beads in her hands keep count as she says her Hail Marys throughout the Mass and her face glows when she receives the Eucharist. She is always last in line to receive both the Host and the Precious Blood.

In Bakersfield, he's there no matter what Mass I attend, or whatever hour I decide to attend Adoration--the older Mexican man with his harmonica, his arthitis-gnarled hands, and his faith. He is a little "off." He will grab a bunch of bulletins, or missalettes, or whatever else is in the church to read then tap everyone on the shoulder and offer it to whoever wants it. During Mass, he's the unofficial "music minister". He knows about 5 tunes on his harmonica--"Holy God, We Praise Your Name", "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", "Taps" and "The Halls of Montezuma". I found out tonight he's been practicing a form of the Alleluia that is sung before the reading of the Gospel. He yawns loudly throughout the Mass (involuntarily) except during the prayer of Consecration and when he receives the Eucharist--always the last in line to receive the Host and the Precious Blood.

In Stockton, it's the guy who sits in the very last pew of the Cathedral for Mass when there are only about 20 people total in attendance. But you hear him respond when he's supposed to, in that booming, unmistakable voice. Again, he's the last to recieve, and under both Species.

I rented a movie last night. Me. The tightwad of the century. Why pay for a movie when it will eventually be shown for free? Because there was absolutely NOTHING I wanted to see on the "boob tube" last night!

Not to get off of my train of thought, but have any of you been to a Blockbuster Video or Hollywood Video store recently? All those movies and the only "family" movies are cartoons! Everything else has nudity, violence or suggestive language. Sorry, but I refuse to pay for those "virtues."

Anyway, I did find two movies that were well worth renting. The fact that they were "little seen" movies that were only $1 each sweetened the deal. The first was a movie titled, "Joshua".

"Joshua" walks into a small town with just some 1st century carpenter tools in his possession and starts rebuilding a church and the lives of the people in town. In the end, he is revealed to be Jesus Christ, who just wants to remind the town that He loves them. Real ecumenical, but a good message with no real contradictions of faith or morals. I really enjoyed it.

The 2nd movie was "Mother Teresa" starring Olivia Hussey. You'll remember she played Mary in the TV mini-series "Jesus of Nazareth" in the 70's. She was very good in this movie. So good, in fact, that I found myself crying during certain parts. It's a good thing nobody was around to see that. Oops! The cat is out of the bag. I'm such a girl sometimes. ha ha.

In the movie, Mother Teresa notices a man lying in the middle of the street crying out for help and no one seems to notice him. Mother Teresa kneels down beside him and the man simply says, "I thirst." She immediately recognizes Christ in "the poorest of the poor".

He's the same Christ I see whether I'm in the church in Lodi, Fresno, Bakersfield, or Stockton.

Or just walking down the street in Anytown, USA. Do YOU see Him, too?

Tonight's picture is reportedly a rendition of Mother Teresa when she was a young girl, asking the Blessed Mother to take her petitions to Jesus.