I will begin the first "Something Special Happened" Series. Celebrating the Eucharist is central to my life as a Priest. The intimacy involved with the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, shared among the faithful, cannot be adequately expressed through words. Tears - maybe, words no. Today, I had the opportunity to celebrate the Noon Eucharist at the Cathedral for the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter. The Altar Guild at the Cathedral is amazing and Noon Eucharist in the small chapel is special.
In the back of the chapel sat a couple blessed with gift of years. Prior to the service, the gentleman asked if we could take the Eucharist to his wife who could not come forward to receive. Yes, of course.
It was a beautiful service with the reading of my favorite Gospel passage "Peter, feed my sheep." I noticed the wife raised her head only once, during the Sacrament. At the conclusion of the service, as I was say the final blessing, the wife raised her hand and in a loud voice stated "Father" I tentatively responded "Yes" and she asked "since this is Martin Luther King week, can we sing We Shall Overcome?" I told her that I did not know all the words, however, if she would lead, I believed all in attendance would join in. A broad smile was on the face of all those in the chapel as we started singing "We shall overcome..." Our friend in the back row could not lift her head, yet her voice rang through the great cathedral.
Yes, we shall overcome. We shall overcome the problems, the divisions, the pain. We shall overcome because we believe in Christ, our hope. Yes, we shall overcome, with little miracles, with a special song, with a frail lady in the back row asking if we could sing in the presence of God. Yes, we shall overcome.
Happy Day and the blessing of God. Please send your stories because something special always happens, in our Diocese.
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