The Last Supper

[image: 'Last Suppr' by Bohdan Piasecki]
Last Supper by Bohdan Piasecki, 1998

I like this painting of the Last Supper. Not because it rewrites the Gospel accounts or hints at the inclusion of women as apostles and as ordained priests. That intrudes upon theological issues that I do not want to get into, and frankly, could care less about.

No, I like this painting because it portrays a family, God’s family. It foreshadows the great banquet in heaven that is waiting for all of us.

And to paraphrase a line from one of Fr. Scott’s homilies, I can imagine one of the children saying, “Let’s eat. I’m hungry.” And Jesus responding, “No, not yet. Let’s wait a little bit longer. Not everyone is here yet.”

All I Have

I wrote this poem in less than an hour. If you know me, this is very unusuall, especially with anything poetic. This poem was inspired by and originally posted with Susan’s poem. It sums up a small portion of my experience this past year following the Spiritual Exercises.

All I truly have is the present moment, the Now.
It is a gift, a present from God.
And God is here now too, giving me this gift.
I cannot be thankful enough.

I am sadden at all the times
    I did not unwrap my heart for Him,
    for others.
But those times are yesterday,
    in the darkness of the past,
    gone and dead.

I am sadden at all the times
    I will fail to unwrap my heart for Him,
    for others.
But those times are tomorrow,
    in the darkness of the unknown possibilities,
    yet to be.

All those times of failure,
    of yesterday and of tomorrow,
    are forgiven.
That is what God does, give—
Fore-give, has-given.

I am unworthy of all His giving.
I waste so much of His gift.
But God gives any way.
He gives because He loves me.
And because He loves me,
I am worthy.

I cannot be thankful enough.

— Mark Woodward

Ten Commandments for the Road

The 10 commandments for peace on the roads are:

  • Begin with a prayer.

  • If you start late, arrive late.

  • Alcohol is for the radiator, not the operator.

  • If entry into the flow of traffic is facilitated by the courtesy of another driver, wave in appreciation.

  • If you have inadvertently endangered the safe passage of another vehicle, wave as an apology.

  • Make it easy for aggressive opportunity snatchers to get ahead of you- far ahead.

  • Drive so that the sudden appearance of a police patrol car is a pleasant sight.

  • Give plenty of space to cars marked with dents.

  • Never accelerate, and decelerate if advisable, when another car wishes to enter your lane.

  • End every trip with a prayer of thanksgiving.

— Christian Road Safety Association, U.K.

Cinco de Mayo

I wonder if the individuals who are against immigration reform and are celebrating Cinco de Mayo today will appreciate the irony of the situation?

Prayer of Surrender

Father,
I abandon myself into your hands,
    do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you,
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
    and in all your creatures—
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul,
I offer it to you with all the love
    of my heart.
For I love you, Lord,
    and so need to give myself,
To surrender myself into your hands,
    without reserve,
    and with boundless confidence,
For you are my Father.

— Brother Charles of Jesus