"They [our mothers] give birth astride a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more" (from Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot).
How sad an outlook on life this line presents. Surely our lives are more significant than such a brief moment devoid of deeper purpose. We have a choice. We can make our lives more meaningful than that.
Another line follows in the next speech of the play: "We have time to grow old. The air is full of our cries." While you and I have time in this world, we can do more than fill the air with our cries.
Our mothers and fathers gave us more than birth astride a grave. For most of us a family unit surrounded us and even nurtured us physically and spiritually. The church provided a meaningful experience of the gleam of light and helped ward off the threat of the darkness of death and sin.
But for too significant a number of us the real conversion never took hold. The grain sprouted on the path and then shriveled.
At one point in our lives we stood up or our godparents stood up for us and professed, "this is our Faiththis is what we believethis is what we commit our lives to." Then what has turned us from the path?
We get caught up in the humdrum of daily life and live in a state of doubt and non commitment. The actions of our lives are often Godless and careless of our commitment as children of God.
One way to clarify our vision is to embrace the strength and opportunity family presents. We often stand up for the family at funerals or weddings. For that day, at least, we share a bond of unity, common purpose and even similar faith.
A family reunion is like that. All are welcome; all are bound in love and accepted, even if they come late or don't attend all the gatherings.
In a very real way the church is that family that binds in love even those who are careless of attendance and commitment. Christ is the center of the church and his arms and heart are wide open to embrace all. Christ is Love. It is his nature.
You and I are called this January to stand up and recognize that experience of family and love that was the Christmas season. I can only hope you were as fortunate as I was this past month.
The Magi, on that feast of Three Kings or the Manifestation of Lights, experienced a conversion that sent them back to their countries in a different way. Having seen the light of Christ, you and I have to return to our lives in a different way.
Meaningful opportunities for service and charity abound in our families, churches and neighborhoods. It is as simple as following the great examples of those saints and family members who have gone before us with the vision of returning Magi.
