You’ve probably heard the song “See You Again” at some point this summer. I know from personal experience that, even if you’ve tried desperately to avoid hearing this song, it has still somehow crept its way into your life.

I have a problem with it, because, you see… I’m a rapper. And I feel like Wiz Khalifa (the rapper featured in two verses of this song) flat-out disappoints. Where’s the speed? Where are the genius rhyming schemes?! How could you ever justify using a grunt-like sound to fill time that could otherwise be spent rapping?!?!?!

But.

I set aside my bias and looked at the lyrics. They’ve got an important message, I will admit:

“How can we not talk about family when family’s all that we got?”

FINDING GOD IN FAMILY

This summer, I left my “independent college kid” lifestyle behind and moved back home. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

No more making my own schedule. No more midnight Bagel Bite meals. Now I had to text and check in with my parents. I had to watch my sister use my car at her convenience. And, even though I’m almost not even a teenager even more, I was reminded to cut back on “teenager sass” quite regularly.

But then I realized that all this stuff, although different from what I had grown accustomed to in college, was part of what made family so special.

Who else could see me at my best and keep me humble? Who else could see me at my worst and still love me? Who else would be there for the long haul, no matter what?

How can I not talk about family?

FINDING FAMILY IN THE CHURCH

But, let me quote Leroy Jethro Gibbs from NCIS here:

“Family’s more than just DNA. It’s about people who care and take care of each other.”

Maybe our home life is great. Maybe it’s not. Regardless, we’re still part of one big happy family: the Church.
Every Christian we encounter is our brother or sister. Every priest we pass is our Father. Every Catholic that has ever lived — today or thousands of years ago, here or across the globe — is connected to us. We’re connected by the mere fact that we share in the inheritance of our Heavenly Father.

Each soul on this earth is a point in a complicated and united web. Our lows affect those connected to us; they feel our pain and stoop down low to be with us in our suffering. Our highs affect them, too; they are raised up as a result of the joy we spread.

One person drawing near to the Lord is felt by all. Likewise, one person falling away is felt by all — perhaps even more intensely.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, CONCRETELY?

It means we’ve got a family behind us. We’ve got people praying for us, even if they have never even seen our face.

A particularly powerful ally are the Saints in heaven. They get extra prayer power, number 1, due to their awesome perfect unity with Christ and whatnot. So thank God for that: some of the most holy people to walk the earth are sitting next to God praying for YOU.

Number 2, through their earthly example, they help us figure out this whole “life” thing. They’ve been tested. They’ve failed. But they kept trying, and that’s why we look at their lives with such awe and respect today.

Let the prayers and the examples of these holy men and women encourage you; we can be like them. The sin struggle is real, but the attainability of sainthood can win any day.

YOU CAN’T WALK ALONE

This faith wasn’t meant to be walked alone. You can know every word in the Bible, or go to Mass every day, but if you don’t have a community, your faith is nothing.

This Church community exists solely for the purpose of leading one another to heaven. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are here for YOU, to walk with you, and for you to walk with them in return.

They are there when life gets messy, to help bring you up. They are there when life is great, to celebrate alongside you. They are the ones who will be real with you, the ones who will hold you to a higher standard, helping you live in a manner worthy of the call you have received (Ephesians 4:1).

How can we not talk about family? Well, Wiz, you’re right. We can’t NOT talk about it, because, aside from Jesus, they’re all we have.

It requires vulnerability. It requires effort and time and investment of love. But, with a family by your side, you get so much more than you give.