Live Greater We Will Miss You # 59

May 19, 2008

This week a sudden death of a young person rattled the local Catholic community. Death is a part of life but it is so hard to understand when a 17 year-old is running during football conditioning and collapses to the ground never to get up again. Everyone asks why, wonders what could have been done differently, and tries to deal with the harsh reality that we are mortal.

He was so young. He had so much life ahead of him. His friends said he had a huge heart and that he always made them laugh. The coaches said he was one of the hardest workers on the team. Everybody knew his smile, youthful personality, and care for others.

Organized chaos is a great way to describe the situation as friends and family continue to hold vigils at the football field and at school. As I listened and interacted with those who were grieving, the only thought that kept coming to my mind was how blessed we are to have our faith. Without it any type of meaning would be difficult to find. The central question now that haunts all those left behind, what do we do now?

“For love is stronger than death” Songs of Songs 8:6

An image that is caught in my mind from the past week is when I saw a family of one of the faculty members come to comfort him after they heard about the student’s death. As the teacher embraced his four kids and held his wife, it was the love of that moment that brought light into the darkness of the present situation.

It was the love that his friends had for him as they shared memories through tears and held each other close. It was the love that was shown through prayer and quiet vigil in the chapel or on the football field. This love is what brings hope. As the present is still is unbearable, the love is what brings a smile at the thought of a memory, or what gets us back out of bed to carry on, or to gather once again in prayer and vigil to praise the God of the living and the dead for the life of a son, brother, and friend.

This love that we experience is stronger then the death that floods our very world. Without faith and the everlasting love that comes from it, our world would have no hope of healing. You see my friends, the love that we have for those who have gone before us and those who are left behind, is the only medicine to fight the pain of despair and loss. To heal is to struggle and battle to embrace the love that we have experienced, to believe in that love and understand where it comes from.  God who is love, has shown us this love and given it to us in the person of his only Son. Jesus is the love that heals, comforts, and gives hope. Jesus is the one that helps those who experience loss to hold on and keep going. Jesus is the love and only all we so desperately need.

When we look to Jesus, the reality is that life might not be easier, but our Lord gives our experience of suffering a deeper meaning. So often we might turn to other things such as alcohol, drugs, or other ways to give us a quick fix to our hurt or pain. And these things only prevent us from becoming whole again. In this loss if we walk with Jesus who overshadows us with love, He will bring true healing and peace. Be close to Him my friends.

To all those who are hurting, may Mary comfort you and bring you peace.

God Bless You,

Rusty