In this Issue:

Can you Catch the Spirit off the Beaten Path?

Bridge-Building, in the spirit of John Paul II

People, Parishes, and Pictures across the Diocese

From the Bishop: Breaking Barriers

St. Stephen's Covington: Faithful ot the Kingdom

For Kentucky's Junior Miss, Allison Asay, faith matters every day

A tainted Easter message

Questionable decision

Peace for Teri Schiavo

Navajoland Bishop Stephen Plummer dies at 60

Reflection: Time-out

X-ercizing: Burgers, forgiveness, and alleluia

Pope John Paull II dies at 84: A message form the Presiding Bishop

Archbishop - Pope's last days a 'lived sermon'

Resources

Diocesan Calendar

Advocate Information

Past Issues

Burgers, forgiveness and alleluia

By Steve Walton

Grilling out has become our pastime over the last two weeks. We have grilled everything starting with lamb steaks on Easter Sunday. Since then it has been BBQ chicken, vegetables, sausages, and even tofu.

We made hamburgers this weekend. (Jessica made hamburgers, I watched and supervised.)

While we sat on the porch watching the coals burn, we talked about our day.

It had been one of those amazing spring days in Kentucky when the allergies were a price worth paying. The trees and the flowers had come back to life. Keeneland was having its opening weekend, and we had been there. We watched and cheered as “our” horses raced to win. We won a few races, making the day even better. We “people watched” (and there were some interesting people to watch).

We talked about the Easter Vigil we had participated in a few weeks ago.

We laughed and told stories as the hamburgers went on the grill.

I was very excited about grilling burgers. Hamburgers seem totally indulgent and a luxury to me.
As a child I never ate hamburgers at home. They were something I got at other people’s houses and at fairs. I don’t remember Dad ever grilling a burger and I know I’ve never seen Mom eat one.
I remember asking Mom as we were leaving church one spring Sunday, “What are we having for lunch?”

She told me that my dad was going to grill steaks and before she could get any further with the menu I moaned, “Not steak again!”

I was always secretly jealous when I would smell the aroma of grilling burgers.

I took for granted how lucky we were to be eating “steak again.” I took for granted how blessed we were to have food.

As Jessica grilled the burgers I stood watching and thought about all the things I take for granted. There are so many special things that I don’t appreciate.

I forget to be thankful for plentiful food, a nice home, and an amazing rich and full life.
I thought about Easter, and how I took it for granted until I witnessed the Great Easter Vigil. Easter always comes, Christ always rises from the dead, and I’m always forgiven. It wasn’t until I stood in the darkened church and the light came on (literally and figuratively) that I fully realized the power of the resurrection. It wasn’t until the lights came on, the bells started ringing, people burst into the church with baskets overflowing with flowers that I began to comprehend the word “alleluia.” Watching the church come back to life made me feel like I was an eyewitness to the resurrection.
With the smell of grilling in my nose, I thought about my forgiveness and the price Jesus paid for it, and I thought about how I never really thought about it before. Now, since the Easter Vigil, I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop thinking about standing in the dark. I can stop thinking about the waiting.
I kept thinking about the beautiful spring day in Kentucky, the flowers and the trees stirring from their long slumber. The day had been bright, the air fresh, and the breeze cool.
As I looked up Jessica was staring at me. She was probably wondering to where in my mind had I wandered off.

The burgers were ready, and as we sat down to eat on the porch, the bells from the nearby church sounded.

I was truly thankful for all my blessings.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Advocate Online Staff:

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