About a year ago I got a call from the son of a parishioner I knew in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
He called to tell me that his father had passed away. After I expressed my condolences, he mentioned that even though he and three siblings lived in the area, they had not spoken to their dad in almost a week. Sadly, his father had a heart attack and his body just sat there for almost a week.
This reminded me of the story that some years ago a mummified man was found in Southampton, N.Y. He had been dead for a year! He lived alone in a remote area and had apparently died of natural causes as he sat in front of his TV.
When the police found him, the TV was still on and he was just sitting there. Maybe this is a metaphor for the lives that some of us lead……Life is flashing by — great and small events that have profound and accumulating moral consequence are happening — while we just sit there — uncomprehending, motionless, and mute.
As life keeps flashing by YOU, what is and has been YOUR response?
GOD DOESN’T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT. GOD CREATES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DO SO!!
