Not long ago on a beautiful spring morning at a local grocery store while standing in line after Mass, I noticed my cashier was on the verge of tears. This was only after telling a short story to someone else in another check-out line.
While carrying my basket containing oatmeal, yogurt and some other small items to a cash register, I noticed a woman I knew in the adjacent check-out line. After exchanging pleasantries I asked her what her plans for the day were. I was informed she was to attend a wedding later in the afternoon. We know that marriage is a union between a man and a woman where the two become one flesh until death. This union is a reflection of the bond between God the Father and God the Son, whose love between each other eternally generates a third person – namely God the Holy Spirit. It also is a reflection between Jesus Christ and His bride the Catholic Church. It is to her that He is eternally faithful. And finally, it is a reflection between the union between divinity and humanity in the divine person of Jesus Christ.
She then asked me what my plans were for the day. I informed her that I would be going to the nursing home where my dad resides. I related that he suffered another stroke after which all speech ceased. No more talking. It was no more than babble. If he makes it another month, my parents will celebrate their 63rd anniversary.
I explained that my mother sees him almost daily to feed him and to be with him. Soon after this last stroke, she noticed him staring into her eyes intently trying desperately to talk. She asked him, “Lou, what is it? What do you want to tell me?” After some struggle, he was able to say clearly, “I love you!” It was then that I noticed that my cashier was on the verge of crying. I still wonder if she was left high and dry by an unfaithful husband….
Whenever talking about love, I always like to mention the first letter of the evangelist John in the Bible. From it, we are told that God is love and the evidence of our love of God is our love of neighbor, and the evidence of our love of neighbor is our sacrifices for them. Thank you, mom and dad, for your love for each other for almost 63 years! Thank you also to our donors who truly love God because of their love of neighbor.
