Signs and Wonders
by Fr. Luke
Moses crouched low, loosened a strap and removed the sandal.
The sand, warmed by sacred fire, seared his sole like embers fallen from an altar.
Hector works at the refinery and hunts wild game. Sarah teaches children whose smiles linger in her eyes whenever she speaks of them. Young and newly married, Hector and Sarah enjoy the support of many friends.
Their devotion at Mass elicits my respect and admiration, but not as much as the scar on the side of Hector's scalp, a remnant of cancer surgery that occurred shortly after he and Sarah started dating.
Via crucis.
Sarah accompanied Hector through the long and frightful ordeal. Today, their love, forged in fire, warms the feet of all who draw near the epiphany of it.
I felt its warmth one evening as Hector grilled duck in his backyard. Like Moses tending his flock on the day of the Burning Bush, this shepherd did not expect signs and wonders at a summer cook-out. Yet, it happened.
After dinner, Sarah showed me a video of the church in which their wedding took place. The image on the screen displayed an intricate, stone façade. The person filming the shot had crossed the street to capture the height and breath of the structure. In the corner of the frame stood Hector, smiling with his groomsmen on the steps of the church.
Unexpectedly, and unnoticed by the person operating the camera, Hector catches sight of Sarah. He is overcome with emotion, wiping his eyes at the sight of his bride. The camera maintains a wide-angle focus as Hector, in the corner of the frame, regains composure and embraces his bride. He takes her hand, then leads her into the House of God.
The film ends. In the silence that follows, the sandals on my feet feel warm. Very warm.
[ For reminders of new posts, please email Fr. Luke at highplains601@gmail.com]