We had a new priest celebrate Mass today. This was his first Mass and I received his
blessing, after Mass. ( There is a specific plenary
indulgence attached to attending a priest’s first “scheduled” or “public” Mass and to the first such
Mass only.Enchiridion 1999, conc. 27 ).1
His homily was about the voice of God. It’s been three days in a row, that I’ve
gotten the message, “My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;/I know them, and
they follow me. “ ( John 10: 27-28) I
get it. I’m listening. And what I heard today, in both the First
Reading , and the Gospel, was the noun, “hands”.
And the hand of the
Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21-22)
My Father, who has
given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the
Father’s hand. The Father and I are One. (John 10:29-30)
To me this means, I’m in God’s hands. I know this already. Since it’s emphasized twice today, I’m
nervous. Is something terrible going to
happen that I need to consciously remember that I’m in God’s hands? I won’t say, I hope not. I pray that I don't forget that I’m in good hands,
the best hands-- God’s.
Or is it a reminder of this new priest’s hands? The hands of a priest are special. It is with these hands that the priest will
consecrate the bread and wine. The
Eucharist is the reason and source of the priest’s mission because it brings
Jesus to the people. It’s a divine
mission and the priest’s hands are the instruments that brings this mystery
about.
Some people, after receiving the priest’s blessing,
sometimes kiss the priest’s palms, for this reason.
