If there is one thing that I feel is certain about the single life, that is that there is no real palpable sense of "home." Singles tend to work or study in various locations...big cities, suburbs, some domestically and some around the globe. Many of us work to support ourselves. We have the luxury of specialized study, the ability to think about what we want to do opposed to what we have to do. We have no real roots down anywhere because we don't have obligations to others besides ourselves. I've already moved twice since graduating from college, and in reality, I have no real ties to any one location. All of this "rootlessness" is for better and for worse, though. To be without obligations is a blessing in that we can serve the people that we're called to serve in our work and social circles, but it is really difficult in that we have no one at home asking of us and for us each day or night in an intimate, familial way. When we return from work each day, do we really feel like we can put our feet up and feel secure, safe, and wanted? I don't know about you, but I long for a sense of home on a daily basis. Today, on this feast, I realized that when I approach the altar, I am going home. There my king welcomes me with joy and love every time I approach Him there. When we received the Eucharist, we find our home.
The other thought that I had about this feast day in relation to the single life is that lay, modern, Catholic women ARE the corpus in the world. We have the freedom, the time, the energy, and the opportunity to make Him present to others who need Him. And that includes making Christ present to married people, to clergy, to religious, and to our fellow lay men who are all seeking gentle compassion, intelligent discussion, warm hospitality, and honest observation from women. Single ladies, be the Body of Christ today, and know what we all have a home at the table.
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1 comment:
wow. this is a lot to think about.
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