Great Googly-Moogly!!

qui respondens ait non est bonum sumere panem filiorum et mittere canibus

Note: The full story may be found here...

OK, after scraping my brains off the ceiling and screwing my head firmly on my neck, I read the story a second time to ensure that I read it correctly the first time. Yeah, I did and the Rev. Marguerite Rea administered the Holy Sacrament to a a German Shepherd-Rhodesian Ridge-back on a Sunday in the Diocese of Toronto.

I'll avoid the requisite rage and rancor and the "blah-blah-blah... liberal clergy", etc.

Truth be told, I'm probably as big a dog lover as Father Jonathan (aka the "Mad Priest"). I've known the companionship of a family dog for my entire life, these ranging from the Kerry-Blue mix from my childhood, to the Westie and Scotty seated at my feet as I blog. They have all been gentle, noble creatures who've demonstrated a visible level of devotion, affection and something approximating Love. As they weren't created in the image of the Almighty, I don't believe that they can truly love. But that said, they've demonstrated a fidelity surpassing many people I've known. I suspect that if the Almighty owned a dog (not so far-fetched, considering He owns the cattle on ten thousand hills), He'd likely own a Scotty or a Collie.

I'm troubled by Rev Rea's misunderstanding of the nature and celebration of the Eucharist. The sacrament was born out of the final passover meal celebrated by the Master and his Disciples. Using the elements of the Seder meal, Christ Jesus lifted a loaf of unleavened bread, turned to his disciples and said "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." Following this, He lifted the Birkat Hamazon (or the Cup of Blessing) and said "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

The meal was, is, and continues to be a sacramental feast that proclaims the new and everlasting covenant between God and His people. Elements of this feast speak to the flesh that was torn, broken and pierced to bear the punishment for the collective and individual sins of humanity. Too, in the cup there is the perfect blood that was shed, satisfying the shear, vertical requirements of the Law.

Succinctly, this is a meal served by the redeemer to those he has redeemed. You and I have need of this Redeemer, Trapper the noble (and certainly lovable mutt) has no need of a redeemer and consequently no seat at the table.