Yes, yes, I know...

...I haven't been much of a blogger. Hey, a lot has happened in the past month. For one thing, I got a new job (yay!). It's at a large asset management firm and I'm doing accounting for them. I'm not passionate about it or anything, but so far it's better than where I came from in a lot of ways (also worse in some ways, but overall I think it's a net gain). So what's going on in my little brain that might interest anyone out there? Not much. I am definitely warming up to my new book, which analyzes JPII's writings on sexuality, marriage and family. I'm just now reading a summary of Familiaris Consortio, and it's really interesting. I should probably read the actual document. So basically the pope said that living family life is a sacrament. The family is the domestic Church. It's the mystical body of Christ in a specific form. A family images the relationship of the Holy Trinity and the relationship of Christ with the Church to the world. Whoa. A family lives out the priestly, prophetic and kingly offices of Christ specifically, in its own situation, in the acts of love that each member performs for the others, every day. A family is a communion of persons and should be a communion even to the extent that the Trinity is. Not "Oh, we're only human so we could never be in such intimate union as the Trinity so it's ok if we're mean to each other once in a while." No, we really are called to be a communion of persons just like the Trinity is, because ultimately, we're made to be drawn into that communion of persons that is the Trinity. Again, whoa. The thing I love is how our dear late Papa is so practical. This isn't some theoretical teaching that's thought about and talked about in a vague way. This is actually meant to be lived in each and every individual set of circumstances. In taking out the trash and doing the dishes, in driving the kids to soccer practice and ballet and piano lessons, in working all day to at a job that you may not necessarily love to put food on the table and clothes on bodies and pay the electric bill, in giving kisses and backrubs and yes, even in, especially in, having sex. It's meant to be lived in difficult circumstances, when a couple discovers they are infertile or that their child has a severe disability or they find out they are pregnant AGAIN and it's SO SOON or there is a death in the family or whatever. Each member of the family is called to, has an obligation to, surrender himself completely to the others. Specifically. In each decision that is made. In every situation, every day. This is what we're made for. It sounds kinda hard, but so beautiful, right? Is this really what I signed up for? I kind of knew all this already, and I'm sure you did too, but we all need reminders, right? This is so huge. This is it. This is what makes us who we are, what makes us happy, what makes life worth living. And since we're fallen, how easily (and sometimes conveniently) we forget. How can it be that this is at the same time the most simple thing but also the most earth-shattering thing ever? I think there was more, but I can't remember it right now.