Here I Am, Lord

Dear Friend,

When presiding at Eucharist Father Jack always begins by reminding us of two things: first, that by the time we’re all making the sign of the cross, our prayer has already begun. Making our way to the front doors of the Mission church, looking at the trees and mountain ridges, hearing a bird or two, or maybe just the flurry of  our own restless thoughts – whatever, in each moment-by-moment act of attention, with varying degrees of focus, our prayer is taking shape. Second, that God’s love revealed in Christ Jesus is at the heart of our celebration, and that when our response to that love lags, sin comes in. The gift of mercy lets us begin again.  

Father Jack’s gentle way of gathering us for Eucharist points to the prayerful attention and mercy which are the resounding themes of this Sunday’s readings. “Come to me heedfully,” writes Isaiah, while Paul says flat out that nothing can separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus. How will we respond? In the Gospel, when the disciples ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd, he does the opposite. He invites everyone to sit down and stay awhile. Dismissing people amounts to a “non-response” to God’s love and tangles us in the narrowness of sin. 

I spoke with a couple this week who’ve chosen to include the song “Here I am, Lord” in their wedding Mass in October. For them, the song says yes to staying with and trusting for a lifetime the love that’s brought them together. We’ll all do the same this weekend as we bring our gifts – simple as they are - to the altar. God’s abundant mercy will lift us and the loving attention of Christ will make us one. 

Gratefully,

Father Dan ofm

Pastor