I don’t know if it’s an original idea or not—and I hope it’s
not sacrilegious—but I think that a good idea for a religious themed light-fare
restaurant would be an establishment called “The Last Supper.” All profits would be used to help the poor in
a particular neighborhood or city where the restaurant was located. The waiters would be dressed as the Apostles
dressed in the First Century; in robes and sandals (probably a Health
Department nightmare!). The waitresses would be dressed as some of the women in
the New Testament; maybe like Mother Mary (very tastefully of course), but
probably more like Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha or a (reformed) Mary
Magdalene. All employees would be
volunteers, so no salaries would impact the profits available to help the poor.
The décor would be simple as well. Long cenacle tables with benches only on one
side and olive trees (they’re pretty prevalent around Jerusalem), and different
verses of the Good News either carved in the rafters or printed on the menus—especially
those that remind us to love one another as Christ loves us.
The restaurant would be open only during Lent and Advent. These are the two liturgical seasons that
focus on repentance and reconciliation, prayer, fasting and almsgiving; hence
the “light fare” menu consisting of soups and sandwiches.
A priest could be on hand to hear confessions in an adjacent
chapel either before or after the meal.
There could be an “RCIA Night” each week with Catholic apologists on
hand to answer questions about the Church’s teachings. Reservations would NOT
be necessary.
I thought of this restaurant idea after studying the readings
for Monday. It occurred to me that with
these readings, we can build a “High Standards” sandwich, with grace in the
middle and a little grace for dessert. It
sounds like the perfect menu choice for a hearty, faithful appetite looking for
hope and confidence in God’s love for us!
The book of Wisdom (Chapter 1, Verses 1-7) challenges us to
seek justice and integrity. Yet this
call to high standards includes in it a sense of the grace available through
the Spirit. We are not on our own in
this challenge.
The Psalm (Psalm 139:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10) offers the hearty
meat of the sandwich (This sandwich could not be sold on Fridays!). We can be confident in asking for and
expecting God’s guidance. Savor the
assurances here. God is before us,
behind, us and around us. His hand is
upon us. We are His children. He is our God. These graces offer the sustenance and
assurance to contemplate and ask for continued grace to tackle those hard
challenges in the first and last readings.
We get to another set of high standards in Luke (Luke 17:1-6). We see how Jesus loves us and wants us to
help one another. He scolds to warn us
about leading one another astray and sets a very high standard for forgiving
one another when we do stumble.
Our response may match the disciples’ response to these
challenging messages: “Lord, increase our faith!” Jesus assures us at the end of the reading
that God provides all we need to do what is asked of us. Our challenge is to believe it – to really
believe it. I am often like an
exasperated child, quick to despair. I
want to be more like a mature child, confident and obedient in the guidance and
gifts provided by a loving God. I need
to savor that Psalm several times today.
Bon appetite!
Rosary Intentions
 |
| Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us who have recourse to thee! |
Today,
please pray for those who are feeling alone or abandoned; May God send them
angels to comfort them.
==============================================================================
Guide us
Lord along the everlasting way. Thank You
for Your patient and constant love and care.
We ask for more awareness today of the power these graces provide to
love and care for one another and to seek justice and integrity in all we do. Amen.
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