Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - May 2, 2023
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”
Encountering so many old friends at the reception after a funeral, one might feel guilt for having so much fun at such a serious time. Typical is the experience of the writer. Barely inside the church for a funeral he was happily surprised to run into Valerie, a former student of his, now a Lutheran pastor. In this part of the world most of us are used to renewing bonds at such times.
True, if the funeral were of a young person whose death leaves parents and friends overwhelmed with sorrow, laughter and camaraderie might be muted or absent, understandably. If the deceased had been suffering for years, family and friends will likely see death as a relief. In such a case they will be accepting and comfortable with reminiscing and laughing about old times, seeing old friends. A priest serving in alumni relations at a Catholic college says that the shorthand description of what he does is: “Fun, food and funerals.”
In many ways these very happy times when we meet old friends are expected. Rediscovering old friends while losing another is the way it has to be. We renew friendships with people who have been a part of our life. We meet them changed as they may be by illness, life’s ‘hard knocks’, successes and disappointments, tragedy and love.
And, to touch on the ‘food’ part of the line quoted above, as with so many important moments in our lives, our getting together happens in the context of a meal. Once again we are happily reminded of the uniquely human element in eating. We are not merely renewing our physical stamina. We are celebrating friendship and solidarity in the human community (as we do in the Eucharist) over ham sandwiches, jello, coleslaw and chocolate chip cookies – or the equivalent depending on your whereabouts – and a lot of laughter.
