A Love Without End Amen.

Today one of my best friends here made a comment about communion and the sign of peace. It came to my attention that I didn't really understand why we gave each other the sign of peace just before receiving the Eucharist and he helped clarify that. He said that the sign of peace represents the action that we are about to partake in--communion or community. Amazing huh? That something so deeply tied to our faith in God isn't just about the bond we share with him but the bond we share with each other. That speaks volumes to me that even such a simple act was meant to unify us all in God's eyes. This to me is what it means to be loved this is what it means to have "peace". Such a great feeling needs to be spread beyond the three minutes or so we have at mass to recognize it--it needs to be brought into everyday life. 

This brings me to the idea of our next major holiday!

Friends many of you must be aware of the upcoming holiday commonly known as Valentines Day (known to other's as single awareness day). Well this is a holiday that is often considered a construct of the media to suck more money out of us and to many that may be true; at least for Valentines Day but what about Singles Awareness Day?

When we think of being single we think of being alone, or incomplete, or even not loved, and yet we are none of those things. How come there isn't a word that describes someone who isn't in a typical "relationship" but still commits to a loving relationship with their friends, family and God? Facebook may not list me in a relationship but who is Facebook to judge my relationships? I AM in a relationship; with my wonderful mother, my outstanding best friends, my life-giving Lord, even you who are reading this we are in a relationship--there is love in these words! So where does this tie in with Single Awareness Day? Well I will celebrate this year not by buying a diamond necklace or going swing dancing but rather by letting all the people I love know that I am in a relationship with them!Take a moment to think about it, how ridiculous is it that we define our selves as single? At no point in my life have I been single, I have been blessed enough to be surrounded by extraordinary people all my life.  

Then that leads us to love. If I am not single then obviously I am in love right? You got it! I live and breath love like my life depends on it--because it does. To be in love I don't need flashy gifts or extravagant outings all I need is commitment, the ability to put those I care about before myself when the time comes. I think Nat King Cole put it best in his song L-O-V-E when he said that "love is more than just a game for two"--how awesome is this thought? That are love is meant for more than just our selves, that is is meant to spread beyond us to others? That kind of love will lead you to a successful "relationship"--maybe you could even make it Facebook official. The best relationships are between two people who want to give and don't expect to receive, those who offer to other endless and unconditional love. If that is the kind of relationship you are in you wont need flowers or expensive dinners all you need is each other. 

So then this Valentines Day/Singles Awareness Day I encourage you to go out and let everyone know what their love means to you. The ability to care for others so deeply is one of the best gifts God gave us so it would be a real shame if you didn't use it!