Mother Shepherd
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle B
Liliana called me to her room at three that afternoon. "Chaplain," she said, "can I bother you to come and give me and my family communion tomorrow afternoon at two?"
Liliana and I had had a great relationship since she had been admitted into the hospital five days ago. She had talked endlessly of her children -- all eleven -- and their spouses and children. Two were already widowed and one was divorced. She knew what all the "grands" and "greats" were up to. Liliana was a proud shepherd of her flock.
She was also very honest about what was happening to her body and what her future held. She was firm in her faith. Liliana loved the Lord. "He loves me because he sure hears enough from me," she would always say. She felt good about her faith.
But she didn't feel good about her present condition. Her dialysis sessions didn't go well and she had made a decision to stop treatments. She had her daughter call the family; they would gather tomorrow and have communion as a family for the last time.
I was nervous. I wanted it to go just right. I prepared the elements, prayed, and read a meditation I would share.
The service at Liliana's hospital bed was beautiful. Thirty-eight of us were crammed into her private room. Tears flowed freely as Liliana told her children she was so blessed to see that they had all made it with so many of the "grands" coming also. My own tears fell as I considered the words of institution.
I looked at Liliana and she smiled at me. "Thank you so much for doing this," she whispered. She winked at me. I continued, choking back tears as I considered Liliana, her family, and the words of holy communion.
We all took communion. We all shared the peace. And we all cried. As I blessed the group, I turned to Liliana and asked her if she had anything to say. She lifted her hand, looked around, and said, "You have all been wonderful to me. I love you so much and you have loved me so much. God will bless you forever for that."
To this day, I cannot preside over communion without recalling the feeling I had giving communion to Liliana and her family. Liliana, the shepherd, had blessed us all by her request, by her faith, and by her words. God, the shepherd of all, was surely present in this place.
Liliana and I had had a great relationship since she had been admitted into the hospital five days ago. She had talked endlessly of her children -- all eleven -- and their spouses and children. Two were already widowed and one was divorced. She knew what all the "grands" and "greats" were up to. Liliana was a proud shepherd of her flock.
She was also very honest about what was happening to her body and what her future held. She was firm in her faith. Liliana loved the Lord. "He loves me because he sure hears enough from me," she would always say. She felt good about her faith.
But she didn't feel good about her present condition. Her dialysis sessions didn't go well and she had made a decision to stop treatments. She had her daughter call the family; they would gather tomorrow and have communion as a family for the last time.
I was nervous. I wanted it to go just right. I prepared the elements, prayed, and read a meditation I would share.
The service at Liliana's hospital bed was beautiful. Thirty-eight of us were crammed into her private room. Tears flowed freely as Liliana told her children she was so blessed to see that they had all made it with so many of the "grands" coming also. My own tears fell as I considered the words of institution.
I looked at Liliana and she smiled at me. "Thank you so much for doing this," she whispered. She winked at me. I continued, choking back tears as I considered Liliana, her family, and the words of holy communion.
We all took communion. We all shared the peace. And we all cried. As I blessed the group, I turned to Liliana and asked her if she had anything to say. She lifted her hand, looked around, and said, "You have all been wonderful to me. I love you so much and you have loved me so much. God will bless you forever for that."
To this day, I cannot preside over communion without recalling the feeling I had giving communion to Liliana and her family. Liliana, the shepherd, had blessed us all by her request, by her faith, and by her words. God, the shepherd of all, was surely present in this place.
