The book of Wisdom (Wisdom 1:1-7) 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 Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 139:1-10) offers the hearty protein of the sandwich. 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.
All profits could be used to help the poor in the neighborhood or city where the restaurant was located. The employees could all be volunteers, so no salaries would impact the profits available to help the poor.
Their uniforms would reflect the fashions of the first century. You would be greeted at the door by the ‘Blessed Mother’ or ‘St. Peter’. Then, either ‘St. John’ or ‘St. Mary’ (the sister of Lazarus) would lead you to your seat. ‘St. Martha’, ‘St. James’, or ‘St. Paul’ would take your order. It would be brought to the table by ‘St. Paul’ or one of the other ‘Apostles’. Obviously, your bill would be brought to the table by ‘St. Matthew’, with the tip and taxes already calculated for you. If you doubted the accuracy of your charges, that would be handled by ‘St. Thomas’.
If you want or need to talk to the 'Manager’ ('Jesus'), a priest would 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.
The décor would be simple. Long cenacle-type tables with benches only on one side and olive trees (I understand that 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 music could be either Gregorian chants or contemporary Christian tunes.
The restaurant would be open only during Lent and Advent. These are the two liturgical seasons that have a special focus on repentance and reconciliation, prayer, fasting and almsgiving; hence a “light fare” menu consisting of soups and sandwiches like the “High Standards Sandwich” would be appropriate.
Reservations would NOT be necessary, and no one would be turned away, even if they couldn’t afford to pay. Those individuals would be asked to help prepare or serve the next meal or wash dishes.
Like I said, I probably shouldn’t write these meditations when I’m hungry.
No comments:
Post a Comment