The traditional definition of a sacrament is “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.” That means that there are things in this world that we can see and smell and hear and taste and touch that get us connected to God and God’s love.  Traditionally, the Church has named seven special sacraments in which Christian communities participate together, but of course, the whole universe is replete with these outward and visible signs.

Recently, I had a powerful experience of sacrament at a meeting of the St. John’s Altar Guild.  If you have never been to an Altar Guild meeting, you are missing something.  These women and men of the parish come together once a month to plan for the holy housekeeping that is done every week on behalf of the church. There is so much more, however, that happens at these meetings.  Prayer for our parish, community and world, support for each other, laughter, and real fellowship also always occur.  Love.  That’s what it is.  Love happens at those meetings, and as somewhat of an interloper that evening, I found myself caught up and lifted up by it all.  

At one point in the meeting, an Altar Guild member was expressing the pride with which she wears the Altar Guild pin that she was given upon induction into this loving, serving, faithful band of sisters and brothers. In response, another member who was wearing her pin at the time, held her pin out so that the rest of us could see.  That pin, and all the similar pins worn by the other Altar Guild members, are in my book, sacraments, outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.  They are signs of love: love for the other members of the Altar Guild, love for the members of this parish family, love for God.  

I suppose that is why many of us wear crosses as well.  They, too, are outward and visible signs of the love that we have been shown by God in Christ Jesus.  In turn, the crosses we wear are outward and visible signs of our commitment to follow where our Lord leads and to allow our lives to be sacrifices of thanksgiving.  

To tell the truth, it is not the pins or the crosses or anything else that we may wear that matter most.  What matters is the love to which the pins and crosses point. Love received and love given. That is the essence of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  It is the essence of our lives as well.  Our Altar Guild members testify to this essence by wearing their pins of love and by serving and supporting and praying each and every week.  Their pins and their lives are sacraments of God’s love received and God’s love given back.  May all of our lives be and do the same.  

~Father Art