Blessing!
This past Easter, Father Timothy R. Pelc was caught in a quandary. How does one bless the flock when socially distanced? Especially when you want to sprinkle holy water?
One of Pelc’s parishioners, an emergency room physician, discussed possible safe options for the blessing of Easter baskets and attendees at the Detroit-area church—St. Ambrose Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.
That’s when the good reverend had a smart idea.
Squirt gun.
Said Pelc:
We figured sterile water was the way to do it. We were prepared to do it one of two ways: either we would distribute little plastic vials of holy water, but then we thought, ‘What about a squirt gun?’ The doctor said, ‘That’s fun. If you do that, I’m coming with my family.’”
So there he was, Fr. Pelc, all attired in mask, see-through shield, and gloves, appropriately distanced socially from cars that came his way, hitting cars and their inhabitants and their food baskets with holy water from squirt gun. And yup, the doc came with his family, and another fifty odd congregants, all in cars.
Pelc explained:
The squirt gun allowed the dose without any cross contamination; branches and sprinklers were also considered.”
The parish posted photos on Facebook in mid-April:
Adapting to the need for social distancing, St. Ambrose continued its tradition of Blessing of Easter Food Baskets, drive-thru style. Yes, that’s Fr. Tim using a squirt gun full of Holy Water!”
And it all went viral, generating, of course, meme after meme. In one Father Tim is surrounded by firefighters dousing a blaze; in another he’s out in front of imperial Stormtroopers; in yet another he’s with those characters from Pulp Fiction, all with raised weapons. And there’s an altered movie poster from the 1966 classic, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, except it got changed to The Good, the Bad, and the Holy Spirit. Pelc’s favorite, he confesses, is one portraying him firing at demons in hell (Doom).
If you can’t have fun with your faith, what can you have fun with?”
One commenter wisecracked:
Load up one of these bad boys with wafers and fill another squirt gun with wine and bam, ya got social distance communion!”
The things we do to get blessed!
This is how God says we should get blessed:
How blessed is the one …
whose delight is in the law of the LORD.
Psalm 1:1–2
How blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
Psalm 32:1
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 33:12
O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8
How blessed is the one who has made the LORD his trust!
Psalm 40:4
How blessed is the one who considers the helpless!
Psalm 41:1
How blessed is the one whose strength is in You!
Psalm 84:5
How blessed is the one who trusts in You!
Psalm 84:12
How blessed are those who keep justice,
Who practice righteousness at all times!
Psalm 106:3
How blessed is the one who fears the LORD,
Who greatly delights in His commandments!
Psalm 112:1
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
Psalm 119:1
How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Psalm 144:15
How blessed is the one … whose hope is in the LORD his God!
Psalm 146:5
Jesus echoed the sentiment about blessing linked to obedience:
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
Luke 11:28
No need for squirt guns! Or holy water!
SOURCES:
CBS News, CNN.com
Abe Kuruvilla is the Carl E. Bates Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and a dermatologist in private practice. His passion is to explore, explain, and exemplify preaching.