Intriobo ad altare Dei, I will go to the altar of God. For me that means saying Mass at Mission #1, which is right next door, and Mission #2, which is some 20 minutes drive away by Lake Whitney. What a privilege that is! To consecrate the elements of bread and wine such that they become the Body and Blood of Christ, what can we say? Domine non sum dignus, Lord I am not worthy.
Powerful, and so was our Gospel text for the day, in which Christ says to Peter, "Get thee behind me Satan!" Why Satan? Because Peter was offering Christ demonic counsel, tempting him to abandon the way of the Cross and thence salvation. Of course the Devil did the same thing in the wilderness at the outset of Christ's ministry, offering him all the kingdoms of the world, only to be met with the same rebuke given to Peter.
Get thee behind me Satan! Use those words when attacked by the unclean spirit. Speaking of which, Burning Man is on and so is the Notting Hill Stabfest Carnival. I should avoid both places if I were you, though it might be fun to put together several big horse trailers and do some light cav "performance art." Perhaps it'd look something like this.
There you are, lined up in formation at one end of the hot, hot Playa, heat shimmering off the sand as hellish techno beats dully in the demonic distance. A bugle calls, sharp and clear, and it's sabers out; Command moves forward at a walk, leading, then it's all acceleration, trot, canter, gallop, sabers down, run, charge!
You can imagine the rich hippies being caught at a disadvantage. Gentlemen, on breaking through to the other side, circle 'round and seize their baggage train, what little of it's worth keeping.
So, get thee behind me Satan!
Cheers,
LSP
