The Nugget of Uncleanliness

Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?

At the school where I work I’m the faculty adviser for an extracurricular group know as the Worship Committee. This is a group of 6th – 8th grade students who assist me in maintaining the religious atmosphere of the campus and working with younger students to get them ready to serve at our weekly school Masses, among other assorted tasks. We usually meet every Friday after school to plan, argue, and, sometimes, Get Stuff Done (TM) (C). Snacks are usually involved, as Middle School kids need a steady supply of calories and carbs to keep their energy levels going. 🙂

Last year during the Season of Lent a student volunteered to bring snacks on a particular Friday. It turned out that their parents were not available on that Friday afternoon, so another family member was asked to provide snacks. As can happen sometimes, the family member was focused on getting food for hungry kids to eat, and the fact that it was a Friday during Lent (where meat eating is not allowed) wasn’t anywhere near the forefront of their thinking. They defaulted to getting a Chick-fil-A nugget platter, as it was fast and portable, and then, not knowing of the coming storm, dropped it off for their unsuspecting student to inflict upon the rest of the gathered community.

[As an aside, it should be noted that while the kids are ready to go right after school, I have a responsibility to fulfill in my dismissal duty – so during the first 10-15 minutes of the meeting another staff member helps out by gathering the kids, getting them settled in our cafeteria, praying the meal prayer with them, then making sure no one is killed as they descend upon the snack like ravenous zombies straight out of the Walking Dead 🙂 But I digress.]

I came back to a house divided – there had been remarks made by kids and adult about the presence of chicken in our hallowed halls on a Friday during Lent. There were aspersions cast upon my kids, myself, and the whole structure of our Worship Committee. The child who had offered the nuggets of uncleanliness as a small repast was crushed that their fowl tithe was the cause of such consternation.

What to do?

Stay tuned tomorrow for the conclusion of our poultrous conundrum!

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo

Photo by my_amii