THIS

There's a beautiful photograph captured that I simply cannot stop looking at—our daughter receiving the holy sacrament of marriage, the solemn priest consecrating the body of Christ during the ceremony. As he lifts the bread, the small host that will become the body of Christ, the priest says:

“Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.”

-Rev. Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield is the author of The Human Person: According to John Paul  (Pauline, 2010) and serves as the General Secretary of the USCCB.)

For us, THIS moment embodies the essence of it all. THIS was what it was all about.

I’ve coined this season as Chaotic Joy. I love chaos.  In fact, every holiday when there is family in every room, carrying on 3 conversations at once, all pitching in, my husband will always lean over and say, you love this don’t you! Yes, I do!  And this past wedding season has been no different.  From the intricate planning to the endless to-do lists, from the celebration preparations to the inevitable miscommunications, the dress, the Mass, the venue, the carefully planned schedules, the sleepless nights spent worrying if everything would come together, it felt overwhelming and filled with joy all at the same time. It was inside the chaos that I found the greatest joy. The intricate dance of preparation and the emotional rollercoasters will become stories we’ll laugh about for years to come.

Seeing our daughter standing at the altar, her face radiant with love and devotion, brought everything into sharp focus. The chaotic joy of the past months faded into insignificance as we witnessed the sacred ceremony where vows would be exchanged, where two lives become one with God in the presence of loved ones. The Eucharist shows us that this was always about something greater than the sum of its parts. Time stood still during this consecration as if every prayer we had ever whispered had been answered in this one beautiful moment.

So, if anyone ever asks me what the essence of this wedding was, I’ll point to this photograph and say, “THIS.” THIS was the culmination of all our efforts, prayers, and love because this was the sacred moment we always had in mind. And for our family, THIS moment was indeed what it was all about.

My prayer for you today is that you will always navigate through the chaos of life and discover the joy that awaits you on the other side.  It might just be THIS.

Together in prayer.  Hand in hand.

This blog post assumes the perspective of a Catholic mom. It is important to acknowledge that everyone's spiritual journey is unique, and the views expressed here may not resonate with all readers.