BROKEN EGGS FOR OFFERTORY

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It was thanksgiving Sunday, the morning looked brighter than usual. This is often an expectation on Sunday mornings as all await the heat from sunlight after noon. 

             Knocking things off tables and kicking belongings in his way, James was determined not to miss the first mass of the year. It was one he dreaded never to miss, a thanksgiving Sunday he calls it. Before the morning of the day, he ordered crate of eggs from a neighbour but did not get them the day before. As he left his house, a young boy run towards him with a crate of eggs which he was thinking of picking up on his way to church. He directed the boy to place the crate in the boot of his car. The boy did as told, got a tip and run back into his mother’s house as James drove off.

            Getting to the church premises late, he decided to park and get into the church before procession by the celebrating priest and his altar boys. He really wanted to be clean on his first day of the year. He totally forgot to go along with his crate of eggs for offertory. He was really cheerful all through the Mass, singing hymns and clapping to the chorales as he moved left and right taping his feet to good music. Soon it was time for offertory. After putting his  in the offering bowl, he rushed out to pick his crates to join the procession for offertory. 

           Upon getting to the boot of his car he almost screamed his lungs out and cursed the young boy who placed the crate of eggs there. The boy had placed the crate on the spare parts and not the flat surface of the space in there.Not thinking of it falling off as the car moved and getting the eggs to break. Obviously he had no intent to spoil James’ day.  

           Meanwhile in the church, the procession was moving and James was now confused, should he take the whole crate into the church as offertory or wait and present them another time but give an equivalent of the worth as offertory?            He was so confused.In a bit, found himself in the queue approaching the altar. Guilt was within his heart, thinking what whoever will unpack the crates would think about the bringer of those eggs. He thought about the aftermath all through the rest of the mass.

          Soon mass was over, his chest fallen and looking down he bumped into another. It was the Reverend Farther, Fr. Oswald. Father was full of appreciation. He told him how he was worried when the whole queue was of a majority of envelopes until he saw him with the crates. He had asked God to touch the hearts of people to bring gifts as offertory which he can give to the widows and orphans. He gave the crates to a widow after mass and she was happy to receive the eggs. He told the widow James brought them since the widow asked. Before James could close his door to drive away home there was a knock on his car door. The widow came to thank him for the eggs. He was very surprised. He apologised for the broken eggs. The widow then opened the crates and smiled. She said ‘’until you said that, neither Father nor I knew there were some broken, but my kids like to fry the broken eggs since it already broken’’. She thanked him again and left.

       James then realised the Father he was worried about did not see the faults he was hoping to hide and the broken eggs rather fixed a broken hope.
       Beloved, in our lives we are like eggs. It’s hard if not impossible to remain whole and not cracked. But when we get cracked or broken, we should return to God. He will always have a way to make something better out of our brokenness. As the father did not see the broken eggs James was worried about. So will the father fix us without looking at our faults? He wants us back just as we are. He has a way out for every broken eggs we present as offertory. Your broken eggs will be used to fix your broken hope. Come to Jes