I was at a family member's wedding this weekend. The setting was beautiful, the ceremony and reception areas were beautiful with great decorations and most of all the bride was gorgeous, the groom was handsome and the bridal party looked great. Food was great, music loud and everyone enjoyed themselves.
So you might be asking, "What's the point?" It was all about the party! When did weddings, baptisms, funerals, dedications become all about the party? These moments of life, at one time, were considered to be Sacraments. A grace moment and for some an element in the salvation life of a believer. It was a sacred moment when the eternal touched the temporal. They were moments when the gift was not just celebrated but honored and cherished with God and the larger community of family and friends. God was recognized as the giver of life, marriage and salvation. Weddings were times when vows were taken, commitments made, promises given, love professed and confirmed, community strengthened, God recognized as the one who makes a bride and groom one, the source of love and the center and foundation of a marriage, and a time to celebrate the gift of marriage, love, family and community.
When life, marriage, child birth, life's milestones and community become all about the party the foundations for a healthy strong life, marriage, family and community are eroded, weakened and faulty. It has been said by one of our contemporary poet/songwriters "party like there is no tomorrow." But there is a tomorrow and an eternity. One of our ancient writers said, "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.' Do not be deceived bad company ruins good morals."
Life is to be full of celebration, let us celebrate! But celebration without acknowledging God as the source of all life and every good gift is empty. True celebration requires the eternal to touch the temporal, commitment to anchor it from the storms of frivolity, true friends and family to walk life with us, and faith to sustain us during the difficult times and the ordinary times that give depth and meaning to our celebrations.
