A Word From Father Bob

A priest names John Shea from Chicago remembers the first time he was conscious of God’s presence in his life. He was 13 years old and was preparing to be an altar boy. His priest assigned him and another boy the task of meditating for 30 minutes on the bread and wine of communion. They sat in the church and looked at the elements on the altar. He was fidgety as you can imagine. But suddenly the communion bread seemed to speak to him: “I am more than bread, you know!”, it seemed to say. That kind of shocked him. He looked at the other altar boy. He was chubby with big ears. Then the other altar boy seemed to say: “I am more than a fat kid with floppy ears, you know.” He knew God was speaking to him. As he walked home, he saw an old lady with a cane. “I’m more than a wrinkled old widow, you know!”, she seemed to say. And suddenly, the whole world opened to him. God was telling him there was more to life than just what one can see and hear and touch.

When God is alive in your life, everything seems to become something more. If you want that “something more” in your life, perhaps a good place to start is with the communion bread on Sunday. Open your eyes and your heart… “I’m more than just bread, you know!”, perhaps Jesus may say to you. And then those who are with you at the altar may take on a new meaning as well. Perhaps those sitting beside you in the pew will look different, as well… your spouse, your friends, even a stranger. Perhaps you will see all of St. James in a new light. And just maybe, when you look in your own mirror you will see more than you’ve seen before.

Come join us this Sunday, as we gather at the Lord’s table. Perhaps we will see more in you than we have before!

Bob +