After mass yesterday I was talking with a new parishioner, a single mom with her young son in tow. She introduced her son to me. "Gabriel will be entering third grade in a few days," she told me. After a few words with young Gabriel his mother and I began chatting about the upcoming election.
"Who will it be? McCain or Obama" I asked.
"Brittney Spears," she replied.
We both laughed.
We said our goodbyes and as I extended my hand to shake Gabriel's hand he quite unexpectedly pushed my hand out of the way and gave me a big hug (as big a hug as a little person whose head comes up to about my belly button can give). His mom and I both smiled. The hug complete, Gab and his mom walked to their car parked not too far away.
That hug----spontaneous on his part, totally unexpected on mine---has stayed with me until this moment, nearly 24 hours later. There was something sacramental about it. The content of yesterday's homily I have forgotten. The songs we sang, the announcements that were made, the faces of the people sitting next to me in the pew: all gone. But that hug....
I wonder if maybe right before Jesus said that famous line about the need for us to become like children if we want to enter the Kingdom he received an unexpected hug from a little person? It would be just like the God Who comes to us in the the seven Sacraments to turn a hug into a sacramental.
In one of her poems Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:
"Who will it be? McCain or Obama" I asked.
"Brittney Spears," she replied.
We both laughed.
We said our goodbyes and as I extended my hand to shake Gabriel's hand he quite unexpectedly pushed my hand out of the way and gave me a big hug (as big a hug as a little person whose head comes up to about my belly button can give). His mom and I both smiled. The hug complete, Gab and his mom walked to their car parked not too far away.
That hug----spontaneous on his part, totally unexpected on mine---has stayed with me until this moment, nearly 24 hours later. There was something sacramental about it. The content of yesterday's homily I have forgotten. The songs we sang, the announcements that were made, the faces of the people sitting next to me in the pew: all gone. But that hug....
I wonder if maybe right before Jesus said that famous line about the need for us to become like children if we want to enter the Kingdom he received an unexpected hug from a little person? It would be just like the God Who comes to us in the the seven Sacraments to turn a hug into a sacramental.
In one of her poems Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:
Earth's crammed with heaven
And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
And every common bush afire with God:
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
Yesterday I saw heaven crammed into the simple, spontaneous hug of a third grader. Today I'm reminded of another passage from Scripture: "And a child shall lead them."
Lead on, Gabriel. Lead on!
Lead on, Gabriel. Lead on!
Pax et Bonum!
~Friar Rex
~Friar Rex
2 comments:
Wonderful story. The homily at the Mass may have been wonderful, but that child's gesture was a lesson in and of itself.
Monday I received a sacramental hug which I still am pondering and relishing. There was a Franciscan element to it. My family is in the midst of a move. Bankruptcy and foreclosure, and sucking up my pride, it's a few days until payday and we were out of formula for my daughter's baby. I returned some choir books to the rectory. As I did, I asked the secretary if someone might be able to loan us money for the formula until payday. Father came out of his office and said goodbye to me. As he did, he gave me a light but heartfelt hug. It was very unexpected to me. I've only been Roman Catholic for 6 years now and my Protestant upbringing has left ideas to be shed. I am left feeling very ingratiated by that hug, but more so, my worth validated as one who has a Right To Be Here, though perhaps doesn't choose to be here, and is certainly not a child of this world. If there was no intended condescension on Father's part, I appreciate his compassion.
Father's intent aside, I appreciate his act as a validation of my faith. Father sponsored my husband for an annulment of a previous marriage so the kids and I could join the church. Father welcomed the kids and I into RCIA/RCIC and our Sacraments of Initiation were administered by him. He married my husband and I in the church. And he baptized our grandson. He also heard innumerable confessions from me, counseled me wisely and administered the Lord's forgiveness, wrote me job references and other administrative duties. My heart and soul know that he prayed for me and I can feel the results of those prayers. I was sad for myself when Father was promoted, but we too have moved on.
Father's gentle, humble, cautious hug said a lot to me. He will be always in my prayers as one instrumental upon my faith journey. May God richly bless his faith and his ministry.
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