In his masterpiece “The creation of man,” Michelangelo posed God and Adam reaching out to each other to touch fingers – a moment of touching, God sharing his very self, life – humanity partaking of the Divine nature.
This moment is repeated throughout history. The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great recounts beautifully many of these touch points, with the incarnation of God the Son as the climax, not to be followed by another but to be kept current through the Divine Liturgy.
The Gospel recounts the story of a woman who wanted to be healed by touching only Jesus’ garment. She realized that she didn’t need to take anything from him, reduce him in any way but just touch. What faith, inspired faith!
For 75 years our church in America has gathered for the annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to realize such a moment, to allow God to touch us. This year’s special anniversary was titled “75 Years of Grace.”
Seventy-five years of sharing in the monastic life of the sisters. Some may have been confused that this refers to memories of nuns in long habits gliding gracefully across the floor as if they had wheels instead of feet. Or perhaps grace as the qualities of elegance and beauty that the sisters witness to in their lives and in providing us with the beautiful setting.
Indeed 75 years of grace, of God in union with his people.
Sometimes we feel like God has withdrawn from us. Today is not unlike 75 years ago.
In 1934, Adolf Hitler had just seized power of Germany, leading to World War II – today we note a number of countries, even our own, where political motives may result in war.
In 1934, our country was in the midst of the great depression; today we see many people here and throughout the world suffering from economic woes.
In 1934, a play on Broadway was titled “Anything Goes” – I doubt that they had any idea of how we would interpret that idea in 2009 to justify moral degradation.
In 1934, the papers reported about organized crime, about street killings, about violent bank robberies, about John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde. Today many are concerned even about sending their children to school.
Indeed, Mother Macrina and the Sisters of St. Basil and Bishop Takach and the clergy and laity of that time saw a need for a special moment of grace, of opportunity for God and humanity to touch. So too today.
For children to understand grace, the sisters and other catechists may have used the image of the rays of the sun. We may relate to the Sr. Faustina’s image of rays emanating from the heart of Jesus in divine mercy, or we may misunderstand the teachings of the Fathers of the Church about the Divine energies to have a sense of grace as something to receive and accumulate.
Grace truly implies the theosis we Eastern Christians teach so well, to be partakers of the Divine Nature.
A few days ago on Sept. 1, we marked the beginning of the church year and we heard Jesus quote the prophet that this is to be a “year of grace,” not just a moment.
Indeed, our respite here at “the Mount” is a grace-filled moment just like the apostles’ experience on their Mount when Jesus was transfigured before them. But Jesus was quick to tell them that they had to return, not to forget the experience but to extend the experience throughout the year until the next opportunity.
We must now make the opportunities. As you came intimately close to God through holy repentance (confession), repeat the experience at home and witness to others of its benefit. As you experienced the wonderful worship with so many others, so repeat it at home. As you renewed friendships and made new ones, so build the community of the faith at home.
At every Divine Liturgy, the priest quotes St. Paul in extending to us “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.” We have experienced grace, love and communion this weekend. We can do so throughout the year and throughout the nation.
Like the woman of the Gospel or Adam in the painting, reach out to touch, know the grace and share this with others. Your church needs you to do so. The world needs us to do so.
Bishop John Kudrick is the shepherd of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio.
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