ubi caritas et amor, deus ibi est

i have a confession to make.  holy thursday is my favorite part of the triduum.  i think you're probably not supposed to have a favorite part, or if you do, theologically it should be the easter vigil.  i do love the whole triduum, but there is something very special to me about re-membering the last supper, about gathering together around the table...yes, like we do every sunday, but in a more intentional and explicit way.  tonight we celebrate in a special way what it means to break bread together, to wash each other's feet, and to be the bread of life in the world.  who isn't moved by the image of jesus and his best friends sitting down, sharing a meal together- the most important meal of all?  but the beauty of it is that jesus invites us to share in this meal too - he calls all of us to the table.  

i love this re-creation of da vinci's last supper, which includes women and children.  it is by a polish artist named Bohdan Piasecki, and is not only supposed to be more historically accurate than da vinci's, but also sends a much more inclusive message.  all are welcome.  jesus offers his body and his blood for all of us- not just a select few.  

and about the whole feet-washing thing.  this is a beautiful ritual which i have seen done two different ways, both significant.  the church i grew up in selects twelve different people each year to have their feet washed by the pastor.  they do a good job of having a mixture of ages, races, gender, etc.  tonight they even washed a two-year-old's feet!   my current church has six stations set up, and everyone is invited to come up and have their feet washed, and then wash the next person's feet, until everyone has washed and been washed.  this takes a bit longer, but its symbolism just moves me to no end.  this is what jesus asks us to do in the real world every day!  do we live up to this call?
 

"If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do."

-John 13:14-15

the epitome of grace

 this entry is a dedication to my beautiful grandma, Vivian Marie Watkins Keeton, who left this world to spend eternity with God last Tuesday, April 12.  it is, of course, impossible to say in words just how wonderful she was.  the memories i will carry with me forever of her are a hodge-podge collection of smells, tastes, events, and feelings.  

included among them are:

-her sweet southern accent.  i can hear as clearly as if she's in the next room how she would draw out my dad's one-syllable name to at least three syllables when leaving messages on the answering machine.  

-her love of God's green earth - the mountains, the beach, flowers and plants of every kind, and birds- especially hummingbirds.  

-her love of family.  she was never happier than when she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren.  this love was often expressed by the amazing food she would spend hours preparing for us...country ham, fried chicken, sausage biscuits, pot roast (keetons are not vegetarians!)

-she was a true "steel magnolia" - (according to urban dictionary, "a southern woman who is strong and independent but still very feminine").  whenever i am at her house and see the giant magnolia tree in the backyard, i will think of her - tall, strong, and beautiful.  she was such a lady - always dressed to impress, with jewelry, makeup, and matching shoes.  she always wore an apron to cook so as not to ruin whatever she was wearing (not sure i've ever worn an apron to cook?!).  i remember many shopping trips to the mall, shampoos in the kitchen sink, and nail painting extravaganzas.

i already inherited her middle name, but if i could hope to have inherited any of grandma's wonderful qualities, i would dare to wish...
-to be as  generous in spirit and as caring as she was...for all plants, animals, and people.
-for the love she shared with my granddad for 67 years.
-for just one ounce of her talent in the garden and the kitchen.

grandma vivian, you are missed more than words can say.  how blessed am i to have called you mine for 29 years, and to have a grandma it is so hard to say goodbye to.  
love and mooches, caitlin

Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; 

the fellowship of kindred minds is like that to that above.