It is God’s desire to cleanse us of sin today, not to shun us because of it. He has everything in place for us to attain eternal life in Him: saints in Heaven interceding for us, souls in purgatory praying for us, and a monsoon of grace raining upon us.
Personal and family prayer, along with the Sacraments, form the foundation of love upon which family unity is built. Living our faith-filled life now becomes part of the heritage we pass down to our descendants. And as we prepare to enter the holidays, what greater gift can we give than the lived life of grace?
It is autumn, a season unique in the variety and sometimes brilliance of colors seen around us. While this can be said of spring and summer too, those seasons reflect the burst of new life. Autumn, on the other hand, shows us the beauty in life matured.
So too with the cycle of human life.
The world makes idols out of those with power and strength. But real beauty lies in the vulnerable, the forlorn, the forsaken. It is in these that we see the majesty of God, who created and carries them forward even when they are without means to sustain themselves.
80% of marriages end up in divorce within five years of a child loss. Don’t become one of the silent sufferers, part of the 95% of parents who do not seek support after the loss of a child. And don’t be afraid to accompany others as well. It’s time to embrace radical solidarity.