After Saturday morning Eucharist

The house is quiet. The taste of the consecrated bread and wine is still in my mouth. I have a large cup of black coffee next to me, ready to be enjoyed, but wait -- I want to enjoy the moment. I have just received Christ in a special, indescribable way, in the Eucharist. And the taste remains in my mouth to remind me, and to enjoy. Enjoy Him. I'm still habited, and haven't yet removed my stole.

The habit is a gentle reminder that I am not only a Franciscan, but I'm also a part of that universal order of monastics John Michael Talbot wrote of in his book "Hermitage" -- all who are drawn to be monastic in some way in their lives, vowed and joined to an order or not. I am reminded this moment that for me it was either be monastic, or dead. Either way, in a way I had to die to this world -- due to my own fault and that of others, the world had lost its charm. Yes, there is something of the world I still enjoy, mainly the Creation and the arts (people are interesting, too -- personalities made in the image of God), seeing God's hand at work, and a returning to those things that really matter -- family one of them, and love for my Shirley.

The stole and the taste in my mouth remind me that I've been ordained and set aside to the sacred order of priests. My hands were anointed and consecrated with oil and set aside for God's use. Not only was evil I had done with them forgiven, washed away and "thrown as far as the east is from the west" (the Psalmist wrote), and not counted against me by God (Paul wrote), but even better -- they are set aside to bring the Body and Blood, to bring comfort and healing. Only God can do that. The world cannot, neither does it want to -- it wants chains on those hands and wrists, and to keep us in bondage. I will have none of that. That is not what God wants for us -- He wants us set free from our chains and free to live anew in His mercy and love, to enjoy Him and serve Him as He wills. I have chosen to live in the true freedom Jesus gives, and what He gives no one can take away.

So I sit and enjoy Him this morning -- Him who loved me and died for me, so that I might live. And I live in that truth and in Him. My prayer is that you do, too.