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| Pic from MEK's Pencil in the Hole |
Last night was one of the worst nights I've had in a long time. We were babysitting overnight. My granddaughter woke up crying too many times to count. I felt that I had no choice but to get into her bed and sleep with her. Well, I didn't sleep. I kept my ears open for my alarm to ring at 6:00 because I was scheduled to Lector the first Mass for the Second Sunday in Easter. I certainly didn't want to wake her up so early.
I had a lack of sleep headache most of the day. I was back from Mass and she was still asleep--lucky!
She was gone by noon, so I went to the Divine Mercy services. I was so tired. I planned to go to Confession and come home. A nap was in my future.
The lines for Confession were long. I almost fell asleep waiting. My confessor was good and I liked him, but the penance he gave me made my jaw drop.
My penance was to stay for ALL the Divine Mercy services:
Exposition/Adoration of the Eucharist
Confession
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy
and the relic of St. Sr. Faustina
and Mass (I said I had already been and he told me I could go again and receive Communion again, since this was a special occasion.)
Today was a very special occasion. Today was:
Divine Mercy Sunday
Canonization of two popes--John Paul II, and John XXIII
Second Sunday of Easter
Thomas Sunday
Quasimodo Sunday (read Fr. Gerald Souza's blog for explanation)
For doing all this, I received a plenary indulgence. I can use all the indulgences I can get. I feel I really earned it today.
I was so tired that I'll admit that I dozed off during Adoration. But the Mass and everything else Fr. Romanus Onyekuru, SMA presided over, woke me up. He is an excellent homilist. In fact, I didn't want his homily to end. He saw things in John 20: 19-31 that I never saw before. He also had a wonderful voice.
One of the themes he mentioned, that resonated with me, was "community." He talked about how important community is:
where two or three are gathered Matt 18: 20
living in community Acts 2: 44-47
be united 1Cor 1:10
And there's many, many more references in the Bible. Well Father Romanus said the reason Thomas doubted, was because he was alone. If he had been with the others, he would have felt what had moved them. Community offers support.
Also, Thomas is known as Didymus, meaning the "twin." Who's his twin?
You and me. We have doubts, too. Anyone who has ever doubted is Thomas' twin.
Of course, Jesus treats Thomas mercifully and that theme was expanded on too, since today is Mercy Sunday.
For a penance, I admit I enjoyed myself. And I got a plenary indulgence, too.
