LINCOLN (SNR) - During story time at St. Michael School in Lincoln Dec. 9, third-graders got to hear about their favorite dog, Luna.
Luna, half Labrador and half Bloodhound, is the rescued pet of Father Kenneth Borowiak, pastor of St. Michael Parish. Father Borowiak said Luna was confined for the first three years of her life, in a wire cage hardly large enough for her to turn around in. Undernourished and having never known human touch, she now gets plenty of both food and affection at St. Michael.
Mild-mannered Luna is a well-known figure at the parish and especially the school. Father Borowiak said she is always a welcome guest in the classrooms.
She is also well named, as one of the mainstays of the parish’s identity is Eucharistic adoration: a “luna” is the circular vessel that holds the Sacred Host in a monstrance.
Father Borowiak, who enjoys reading and writing in any free time that he has, began to write fictional short stories about Luna in the Bible in 2020. He said the idea of inserting Luna into Biblical history was the brainchild of former St. Michael School principal, Mrs. Sue Braun.
“I always encourage our students to read,” Father Borowiak said. “I use my interest in writing to connect our students with something they are familiar with – Luna – as a fun introduction to the Scriptures.
“Luna in the Bible stories are a lighthearted ‘what if?’” he explained. “What if this rescue dog, that no one wanted, could walk through the pages of Scripture? What role would she play in monumental events that created and shaped the universe, the earth and mankind?” Father Borowiak said. “How would she react to the important men and women in Salvation History? What would she say to the Lord? How would she respond to His feelings, His teachings, His Crucifixion and Resurrection from the dead?”
Father Borowiak has written more than 30 of these short stories. The series of stories – meant for young and old alike – is a whimsical look at the possibilities.
While academicians say animals cannot love because they lack qualities such as an intellect and free will, Father Borowiak pointed out another perspective. The monk in the book “Brothers Karmazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, said, “Love the animals, they have the beginnings of thought and untroubled joy.”
Luna certainly has untroubled joy and brings happiness to all who encounter her, according to Father Borowiak.
“Joining this happiness to the immutable eternal truths of Jesus our Lord and His one true Church – the Catholic Church – these stories are offered as a look into the eyes of pure love, our Lord, and from the perspective of one of God’s creatures – a dog named Luna – who, if she could have stepped into the pages of Scripture, what and how would she share with us the musings and observations of an uncomplicated life wholly dependent on others, not unlike ours,” he said.
The stories also serve as an invitation to readers to open the pages of Scripture, which are referenced in the stories, in a lifelong search for and encounter with Jesus our Lord.
Father Borowiak plans to write more stories for the students as time allows.
Luna at the Birth of Jesus
By Father Kenneth Borowiak
It was a cold, starlit night. Temperatures hovered around freezing. The animals huddled together in an old barn on the edge of Bethlehem to stay warm. (Luke 2: 6-7)
The building was rickety; in a couple of places the stars shined through holes in the roof. At least it kept the cold wind off of the animals in the chill of the night. The animals heard the rusty hinges of the barn door creak as it slowly opened.
A man and a woman stepped forward and looked in. Appearing very tired, they came in slowly, so as not to disturb or scare the animals.
Carrying an old oil lamp that was half-full, Joseph raised it to his face so the animals could see him.
“My name is Joseph,” the man said quietly. “This is my wife Mary.” (Matthew 1: 18-25) By the dim shadows cast by the lamp, Mary and Joseph could see the outlines of about a dozen animals: cows, donkeys, sheep, oxen, goats and a dog – Luna. The animals nervously looked Joseph and Mary over. It was obvious that Mary was very pregnant.
“We’re not here to hurt you or scare you,” Joseph said. “We have been on a long journey and we cannot find anywhere to stay.” “Is there any chance we can stay here with you?” Joseph asked.
Sensing how tired they were, Luna stepped forward and licked Mary’s hand. “You are such a good dog,” Mary said. “Of course you can stay with us,” Luna said. “You must be exhausted.”
“Is this your first baby?” Luna asked. “Yes it is,” Mary replied. “We have great expectations for him.”
“So you know it is a boy?” Luna asked. “Yes, the Archangel Gabriel told us,” Mary said. (Luke 1: 26-33)
“What?” Luna asked surprisingly. “Yes, I know it sounds incredible,” Mary said.
“It threw our plans off,” Mary said. “We wanted to get married, but we were so convinced that Gabriel was speaking on behalf of God we decided to do what God asked of us.” (Luke 1:38)
“So here we are,” Joseph said. “Can we stay here with you tonight?”
In response, the animals backed up slowly and made room. Joseph raised his oil lamp and saw some hay stacked in the corner.
There were several horse blankets hanging over a stall. He leveled out the hay, shook the blankets out and put them on top of the hay, making a makeshift bed for himself and Mary.
Luna told the other animals, “Let’s be quiet so they can get some sleep.” Joseph turned the wick of the lamp down, and everyone settled in for the night.
In the middle of the night, the animals were shaken out of their sleep by cries.
Frantically, Luna ran to Mary’s side and started licking her hand. “What’s wrong, Mary?” Luna asked with tears in her eyes, “what’s wrong?”
Gasping for breath and sweating profusely, Mary said, “the time is here; my baby boy is going to be born.” (Luke 2: 6-7). All of the animals gathered around Mary to support and encourage her.
“Let’s pray,” Luna told the animals. Quietly they bowed their heads and asked God to make His son’s entry into the world safe.
Joseph held Mary’s hand and wiped her brow. “It will be okay Mary,” he comforted her as she labored to give birth. After a short while He was born – the Savior of the world. (Luke 2: 8-14)
The barn erupted in joy and jubilation. The cows bellered their approval, the sheep bleated with joy and Luna ran around barking wildly. She nearly knocked the oil lamp over with her tail, she was so excited.
After the joy of celebrating, Luna got the animals to settle down. “We need to pray,” Luna told the animals. “Let us thank God the Father for a safe birth.” The animals gathered around Joseph and Mary and the Christ child, knelt down and gave thanks to the Father for a safe delivery.
Mary took her veil and wrapped her firstborn son in it. (Luke 2:7)
Reveling in Mary and Joseph’s joy, Luna asked them, “What are you going to name Him?”
“Jesus,” they replied. “It is what we were told by the angel Gabriel.” (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31) “Excellent choice,” Luna replied.
“I need to get some rest,” Mary said.
There was a small manger–an animal’s feed box–in the corner. It was full of fresh, clean hay.
“That can work for Jesus’ bed,” Luna said. Luna asked one of the oxen, “can you use your big, strong neck and push it over here next to Mary?’
With virtually no effort the ox scooted the manger next to Mary. Joseph got another horse blanket and covered the hay. Gently, Mary laid the baby Jesus in the manger. (Luke 2:7)
They all stood around the manger and just basked in the glow and joy of the night.
Jesus, Mary, the baby Jesus and all of the animals settled in for the remainder of the night to get a few hours of sleep. Luna lovingly laid down, stretched out, next to the manger with her head in her front paws, watching over the baby Jesus.
All of a sudden Luna said, “Do you hear what I hear?”
“What?” one of the sheep asked. “Voices,” Luna replied, “incredibly beautiful singing voices.” One of the goats – Dolly – went to the door. “You won’t believe it,” she said. “It is angels – hundreds of them. (Luke 2:9-11, 14) “Listen,” Dolly said....
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will….” (Luke 2:14)
