Thursday April 17 – The Last Supper<\/p>\n
In the Christian tradition the Last Supper is celebrated on this day. It\u2019s about a meal, and about the sacredness of hospitality. Last year Pope Francis shocked the Catholic world by celebrating Holy Thursday in a detention center and including non-Catholic prisoners in the ritual of the washing of the feet (including Muslims and women). For many Catholics this was a breath of fresh air; for many it was shocking. Challenging hospitality.<\/p>\n
Is it harder to welcome or to allow myself to be welcomed? Being welcomed expands my world according to the people whom I allow to welcome me. A long favorite prayer poem, dating from the 17th century, says for me how important have been the women and men who have found ways to make me welcome when I doubted my place in their place and their lives. That\u2019s what makes me life larger. For you too, I\u2019d bet. Here\u2019s the poem, by George Herbert.<\/p>\n
Blessings today.<\/p>\n
john sj<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
\nGuilty of dust and sin.
\nBut quick-ey’d Love, observing me grow slack
\nFrom my first entrance in,
\nDrew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
\nIf I lacked anything.
\n‘A guest,’ I answer’d,’ worthy to be here’:
\nLove said, ‘You shall be he.’
\n‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear
\nI cannot look on Thee.’
\nLove took my hand, and smiling did reply,
\n‘Who made the eyes but I?’
\n“Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them; let my shame
\nGo where it doth deserve.’
\n‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘who bore the blame?’
\n‘My dear, then I will serve.’
\n‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste My meat.’
\nSo I did sit and eat.<\/p>\n
George Herbert 1633<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thursday April 17 – The Last Supper In the Christian tradition the Last Supper is celebrated on this day. It\u2019s about a meal, and about the sacredness of hospitality. Last year Pope Francis shocked the Catholic world by celebrating Holy … Continue reading