Made Human

We are made human, become human, by relationship, not by work.  Adam needed Eve, not to till the garden, but as a companion.  Monks need community of the monastery.  We do not become fully human in isolation.  Jesus calls his followers friends.  And then he says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”  The bread and wine of Catholic mass is meant to be relational.  It is not meant to satisfy physical hunger.  It is not breakfast.  You can eat alone, but it won’t make you more human, more fully all that you are meant to be.  Sharing life with someone over food can do this.  That is why religions that have food in their worship, do it in a communal setting.  It is important that senior citizens, the unemployed, the newcomer, not be left in isolation.  They will die within before they die physically.  I find that being around seniors helps me to be more human.  Being around screaming, hyper children?  That might be a stretch.  But I can always grow!  Happy New Year.  A good year to love!