Yesterday morning I visited with some very good friends. The meeting was brief but the significance was profound. I've known this family for almost 20 years and it was very good to see them all gathered together. There are some new additions which fill the air with laughter and the promise of life, and this is very good.
The purpose of our visit was to celebrate life, the life of a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather who together with his wife had instilled in their children and consequently in further generations the faith that animates them even to this day. He taught them the simple truths about love, about family about welcoming strangers and making them feel at home, about building bridges and celebrating life.
Great nono as he is known to the younger generations was reunited with our creator a number of months ago, but even to his final day in this world, he continued to teach the lessons of life. As we interred his ashes yesterday, memories came flooding back about these very valuable lessons, and about his wife who he now sees face to face for all eternity. Great nono taught many lessons, including the value of compassion. None of us can live honest and truthful lives if we are not first willing to truly learn the lesson of compassion. How else would we be able to walk beside the humble, struggling with them to understand that ultimately only He can determine the length of our days, the struggles and the joys that we will encounter, and the most valuable gifts of all ... openness of heart to accept our part in the continual unfolding of the mystery we call God.
When great nona died a number of years ago, I could not be present at her parting. Instead I remember music being the key to my spiritual union with all those who bid her farewell in trust and love. This time, I am grateful to have played a very small part in the human rituals of sending great nono on his way home.
Compassion is key to living a life of faith. Without it, we can never hope to be genuine in our quest to follow in the Master's footsteps. Further reflections on this theme might very properly include a look at the special gift of the Eucharist, given for the life of the world, and the ways in which we are called to use this gift for the building up of the family of God.
1 comment:
Jesus gave us the greatest gift we could be given, the gift of himself. I am just now beginning to grasp the magnitude of what that gift really means and the difference that receiving communion often has made in my life. I pray that others come to appreciate what we are being offered at each Mass.
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