Many Hands and Hearts (11/08/2023)

Yesterday, our parish reached out to a grieving family as we stood with them to celebrate the life of their loved one. I was part of the parish group who volunteered to provide a luncheon for the family and friends who had gathered to remember the beloved parishioner, to celebrate his life, and to pray for his eternal life with the LORD. The generosity of the women who made and dropped off delicious salads and delectable desserts was complimented by the generosity of those who gave their time to set up, serve and clean up. As always, I was amazed at what could come of many hands and many hearts joined together in loving service.

Our parish is blessed. I am learning that we are among the few that still do this for our grieving families. I pray that we can maintain the tradition because accompanying our loved ones through grief is responding in compassion as Jesus calls us to do and showed us to do through his example. As I sat back yesterday during a slow time in the preparations, the generosity of others moved me. All were doing what they could, offering what they could. Many hands and many hearts came together, and it mattered.

Today’s first reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans in which he reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. Yesterday, I witnessed a group who gave out of love, without measuring or questioning. The labored together, they shared conversation, they supported one another not just in the project at hand, but also in the struggles and challenges of the individual lives. As I took a short break, I sat and smiled as I watched the busy hands but also the caring conversations, the building of relationships, the extension of compassion for one another’s situations.

At the end of the day, I believe that everyone who helped felt they’d received as much as they’d given. Life fueled by love of the LORD and one another is like that. As we continue on our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us remain open to the possibilities of walking with our LORD by walking with another. Let us consider giving of ourselves in loving kindness as the path to more fully discovering the LORD’s desire that we might be united in love with our sisters and brothers.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.