The old fellow was on his death bed when he suddenly smelled the scent of fry-bread wafting into his room. He loved fry-bread. With his last bit of energy he went into the kitchen. There was his wife kneading the dough for a new batch. As he reached for one of the fresh steaming fry-breads, he got smacked across the back of his hand by the wooden spoon his wife was holding. "Leave them alone!" she said. "They're for the funeral!"
Food and drink are essential for survival. As a boy on the farm I helped with the chores on days when the temperature was forty degrees below zero. No matter how cold, we followed the ritual of feeding and watering the livestock.
We would chip ice out of the frozen trough to make room for the water. We would pour boiling water into the pump to thaw it. Then we would pump water for the cattle and horses that were brought from the barn and hurried back to it after a brief drink.
They never argued saying, "It's too cold to go out. I'd rather just rest today." Sunday morning excuses, which sound too familiar to us. Yes, I'm talking about spiritual food and drink.
The night before his death Jesus shared some bread. Many have forgotten His invitation to "Take and eat Take and drink my blood shed so that sins may be forgiven."
In the Easter Proclamation we hear:
"Night truly blessed
when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendour,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes forever!"
Wow! Earth is wedded to heaven. All nature exalts as on the night in Bethlehem when heavenly choirs were heard in our firmament. Bright stars were seen and even the animals in the stable were honoured at the presence of God among us.
We dance around the mystery, not often fully realizing its significance. Christ's Spirit is now in our world in the real presence of the Holy Spirit. It is the Paschal mystery. We are united with Christ on the road to eternity.
That is right now! Heaven is united to us and starts right now! When we share drink and food with others, when we show kindness and love instead of hatred and retaliation, we experience heaven. "Do this in memory of me" Christ said.
