Final Irony

I was going to let yesterday's entry be the last of my statements on OLPA, but today there was one of those 'God is an iron' moments.

There was a closing Mass for the faculty. I would probably not have gone had the Deacon not specially asked me to come; he had planned a special blessing/farewell to those of us not returning (two retirees and the four of us who got &^*@ed by the Stooges). That was nice, but it was not the ironic part.

The Gospel for today was Matthew 10: 5-13:

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

To my knowledge, that's the Gospel reading which appeared in the lectionary for the day; it was not specially chosen for the occasion by the Deacon or anyone else at OLPA. And yet those last lines are strangely appropriate, somehow.

The keys are returned, the computer is turned in, the grades are verified, and the dust of OLPA is washed from my feet for good and all. Our peace is returned to us; we take our blessings with us to another house, where maybe the occupants are worthy. I hope so, anyway.

Finitum est.

verso - recto