There are times when you observe things that simply take you aback; knock you for a loop. Actions or occurrences in our everyday lives that hit a nerve; sometimes for the good, like a gratuitous kindness, and sometimes for the bad, like palpable selfishness. These lived reminders are usually stark memorable and instructive – they stick with you. A-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words or actions-speak-louder-than-words types of lessons. A great movie can sometimes be that way. Maybe “transformative” is a little overdramatic in describing such things but "thought provoking" is not quite descriptive enough. In church For me, this type of experience took place in church, of all places! Church, that place of hushed silence, reverence and steady devotion. No, my experience was not a fabulous revelatory homily by a dynamic priest or even a beautiful reverent consecration during Holy Mass. We are blessed in our local parish to have fixed hours of Eucharistic adoration early each morning before weekday Mass. These hours of Eucharistic Exposition are well attended by early risers, mostly by the same folks, workers making a quick visit, retired folks and a mix of other faithful, diverse in everything but devotion to Jesus. Faith in the "Real Presence" is not an issue for 5 AM adorers. These hours of Exposition are full of comings and goings, genuflections, silent prayer and kneeling devotion. All kinds of reverence for the King of kings. But last week was different. A kiss and a wave Last week a young woman was departing the church during Exposition from the side nave, facing the Altar and Monstrance, in a inconspicuous spot...
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