7th Sunday in Ordinary Time



I’ve found myself reflecting on the frailty of life these past couple of weeks. With the recent passing of Fr. Booth, I’m reminded of another friend who battled some of the same demons and left this world too early, a friend of 20+ years that we lost just over a year ago. While my history with both of these friends is quite different, there are several similarities in their struggles.

In looking at my friendships with these two men, one whom I’ve known for 20+ years and the other for about 10 years, I can recall seeing similarities in their fall. In both cases I can see, in retrospect, each one becoming more secluded and cutting themselves off to one degree or another, knowing that the person they were at the end wasn’t who they truly were. Another similarity is the denial. In both instances, I am able to look back and see clear signs that there were problems, despite their efforts to hide the fact. Somedays, they were able to hide it better than others and that seems to be the tricky part to accept. On those days it appears that they are a step or two away from turning things around.

As I reflect on this the same question keeps popping into my mind, what makes me different? Certainly, I have my own problems and concerns, how is it that I didn’t tumble down the same hole? I can look back, especially with my older friend, and recognize that at times we walked a similar path, we were both lost. The old saying “But for the grace of God” comes into my mind. In the limited capacity of my mind, while God’s grace is certainly involved, it seems almost too simple of an explanation. In faith I know that God truly is watching over us in ways that our human minds cannot yet understand, but in due time, we will all be reunited in God’s loving embrace.

While I may not be able to fully grasp this reality in my simple mind, I take solace in the great memories that I will always have of these two friends. Whether it is sitting on the “front porch” (this consisted of placing two camping chairs in the hallway outside my room at seminary) and talking with Fr. Booth or sitting at the campfire watching the stars go by sitting with my other friend. I may never be able to reconcile what that difference is to explain why they’re gone and I’m still here, perhaps it’s simply that I miss my friends.

Fr. Eric