This isn’t exactly the Gospel I would have chosen the day
after the beautiful wedding yesterday.
At
Mychal and Melissa’s wedding we perceived a taste in the cloud of witnesses that Hebrews describes. Their family, friends and relatives
were at Mass for the purpose of rejoicing with these two and giving glory to
God. Yet as we prayed for Mychal’s
grandparents and Melissa’s grandfather I was reminded that there was another
dimension of witnesses with us—the angels and saints in heaven. We are called to live among these men
and women both on earth and in heaven.
We
believe that the Church is one and this unity is forged in friendship. We can infer such a friendship existed
between Ebedmelech (what a great name for future children) and Jeremiah. After Jeremiah was dropped into the muddy
well, Ebedmelech approached the king—at the risk of his own safety and life—to ask
for Jeremiah to be released. When
Ebedmelech was given permission to do so he even dropped cloths to Jeremiah to
put under his arms to avoid getting a rope burn on the way up. Ebedmelech showed bravery and
tenderness for his friend.
Finally,
Christ reminds us that we will find division in this world. Please, God, may we be in families who
are not divided. Mychal and
Melissa give us hope for united families, especially in the faith. Yet we know that families can be torn
apart by the choices people make, especially when some choose not to have a
relationship with God.
We are called to be examples of
unity as we strive to remain in the cloud of witnesses. We must hold fast to our Christian
friends and family to support each other in a world of division.
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