What follows is in no way to be construed as sacrilegious; I am merely divulging how my mind sometimes interprets spiritual moments with a peculiar twist. You know, those unwitting thoughts which we would never dream of sharing with another soul.
It was a cold winter morning, the beginning of January to be specific. While attending Mass, standing before the celebrant (priest), I offered a slight bow as a gesture of prostration before God. This gesticulation is an adaptation of being in submission before God. An act of veneration. However, due to the size of contemporary congregations, literal prostrate postures are not practical. This bow is also a signal to the celebrant that we have examined our conscience and are prepared to receive Holy Communion.
Placed in my hands as if a little cradle, the Body of Christ was gently embraced. Saying “Amen”, I reverently took Jesus in, accepting him into my body. Returning to my seat, I proceeded to kneel and pray.
Instead of chewing the Sacrament (such phrasing is crude, but I am unaware of another way to convey this thought), I typically permit the Host to slowly melt on my tongue. However, on this particular morning I had a stuffy nose and keeping my mouth closed would have otherwise placed me on the edge of suffocation (could have left my mouth gaping open, but it did not seem appropriate to have Jesus dangling there ... much too reminiscent of his experience on the cross). Not enthusiastic over the idea of suffocation (am not eager to find out if heaven awaits me, or that dreaded other place), I slowly began to chew. Unexpectedly, there was a loud crunch that I knew reverberated beyond my own sense of hearing. Mind you, this is all unfolding during prayer.
All I could think was: "Wow, Jesus, you sure are crunchy this morning!” Almost laughing aloud, I was happy that God had a sense of humor and I was reveling in the notion that we were bound together in this moment, connected.
It is realized that this view into my perception of the liturgical feast may come across as irreverence towards God. (I thought that, too.) But, in retrospect, while these events were unfolding, I was completely focused on God no other unrelated thoughts had crept in to cause distraction (a rarity for me).
In conclusion, I smiled and thanked Jesus. We were inseparable….
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