Photo © Michael Seagriff

Sometimes we must repeat ourselves — even if our words are not appreciated. It is vital that the Truth be shared, as many times as is necessary. This day is one of those days — a day when I feel compelled to republish (with some slight editing), observations I made nearly a year ago:

Today, in a small upstate New York village, thousands of adoring and appreciative boxing fans will come out to cheer and pay tribute to several boxing legends and the current Miss America, who will process and parade through the village’s streets. The numbers of spectators at this parade will far exceed the total number of individuals who will attend all of the village’s church services this Sunday morning.

Months of preparation and hard work went into this annual event. Many will come several hours before the parade begins in order to stake claim to prime viewing positions. This weekend event attracts national television and media coverage, as well as visitors from all parts of this nation and even from some foreign countries — assembled to publicly honor and pay homage to men and women who made a living by physically pummeling each other. They certainly have the right to do so.

This acclaimed group of human celebrities will parade right past the local Catholic church, where the only Divine Person deserving of much greater public acclamation and worship will remain locked in a tabernacle, ignored, unappreciated, and alone, save for those faithful adorers who keep Him company every hour of every day.

In a few weeks, we Catholics will celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been encouraged for centuries to take Him out of the locked tabernacles in our churches on this feast day and to honor and adore the King of King and Lord of Lords, by publicly processing and carrying Him onto and over the streets of our cities, towns, and villages. Few, so very few, parishes have been or will be willing to do so.

I have no objection to those who wish to offer some public acclamation to individuals who have excelled in some sporting endeavor. I am only stating an obvious but forgotten truth — we should not value those who punch each other with their hands more than He Who allowed Himself to be pummeled, crucified, and killed out of love for us.

It is not right, and I suspect that our abandoned, ignored, and waiting Lord feels the same.

CWG member Michael Seagriff is a Lay Dominican and author of “Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire!” His personal blog is Harvesting the Fruits of Contemplation.

Stephen Weisenbach is a freelance copy editor and proofreader, and guest-posts editor for the Catholic Writers Guild blog. He has worked with a number of Catholic media organizations, including Scepter Publishers, Circle Media, Catholic News Agency, Tiber River, and FultonSheen.com, as well as ad agencies serving national accounts. You can reach Steve at sweisenbach @ ymail.com.

2 Replies to “Our Abandoned, Ignored, and Waiting Lord, by Michael Seagriff”

  1. Before receiving the body and Blood of Christ, we pray, “Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” We speak of the Heavenly banquet at which Jesus is the host, and his guests are the saints and angels. Is not this “supper” (Mass) and this “banquet” (Heaven) the same thing? Is not the “Host” and the “bread and wine” the same thing?

    Mass and communion serve as a nexus between earth and heaven. We in the material world see bread and wine. The eyes of faith see the Body and Blood of Christ, but beyond that we grasp that as we become one with the Eucharist we not only unite with the other faithful within Jesus at Mass, but share the communion of saints, the presence of all the saved who spend eternity celebrating the victory of the Lamb and eternal union with the Lord.

    If this is our belief, how can we accept timidity when we should reclaim the streets and plazas for the one and only Lord and King?

    1. Casting aside our “timidity” and reclaiming “the streets and plazas for the one and only Lord and King” as you exhort should be the number one priority of our Church and each of its members. Thank you Don for taking the time to comment and to challenge us.

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