Encountering the Awesome

“Encountering the Awesome” (587 words)

My characteristically reserved coworker was describing a remarkable meeting between the Holy Father and his family. “I know this word is overused,” he enthusiastically shared, “but it was awesome.”

Overused indeed. We Americans label nearly everything as awesome - from exciting sports plays to the latest phone apps, so says Urban Dictionary, a web-based resource for slang words and phrases. Our lazy habit’s dulled the sense and sway of the word so much that the merely fine, the marginal, and at times even the mundane are upheld as awesome. My husband’s dinner selection was elevated to the sublime recently: “You’ll have the scallops? An awesome choice!” deemed our server. And again at the checkout yesterday: “Receipt in the bag okay? Awesome!” Teenagers particularly love and use the word, yet young people are really parroting the speech of us adults who have demeaned the word well before them.

For good or bad, I still reserve usage as Webster’s defines it: causing or inspiring awe, admiration or wonder: for those moments when one is overcome by sheer magnificence - experiencing the birth of a child, seeing the Grand Canyon, or meeting the Pope, for example - these are awesome occasions. It’s been said and sung that our God is an awesome God, and that’s for certain. Perhaps more explicable for us as Catholics, Holy Communion is awesome.

For most of the Sundays of my life I’ve received the Eucharist. Rather awesome, considering the legions of souls who have lived, been churched and haven’t been blessed with this privilege, either by reason of circumstance or culture. Because I’m in the practice of receiving, I pray that I do so as worthily as a person is humanly able, in acknowledgment of the transcendence and depth of the sacrament. I hope not to take Jesus lightly or for granted, though I surely do.

Lately I’ve been on the other side of the cup, distributing Holy Communion as a newly appointed Extraordinary Minister. Serving in this ministry was suggested to me by several folks: a religious sister, a priest, a fallen-away family member and a handful of others - all within a few months’ time! “Heed the call!” urged a friend and lay minister, and so, after some fine liturgical training and good advice, I began serving in my parish. Extraordinary indeed is the adjective to describe this ministry, although I may regard that moniker a bit differently than its liturgical connotation. Prepared and ready as I was at my first Mass assignment, something wonderful took me by surprise that morning. Something extraordinary. Prior to that moment of giving Holy Communion, no one had told me how powerful the actual encounter would be - the beautiful meeting at the communion place between my brothers, sisters, Jesus and me. Here we were, Jesus between us, the vessel in my hands. Oh my goodness. Awesome awesome awesome. Awesome.

As I eagerly continue in this ministry, (need someone next Sunday, Father?), I’ve become like one of those gushing, chatty teens. All I can say is: Awesome! And thank you, Jesus, for the marvelous blessing to serve the Church and your people in this way. I pray that you, too, may soon experience the awesome, and in particular in an encounter with Christ. I’m partial to service as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. If you’ve considered this ministry or felt called in this way, I encourage and assure you to respond - the opportunity for sheer and rightful real-deal awesomeness awaits.