MICHAEL JACKSON

Today is the Memorial Service for Michael Jackson, an event televised by all of the major networks. The fact that this is happening is a fascinating phenomenon in and of itself. The reaction to his death, as is so often the case with that of so many 'stars' ( e.g. Elvis, John Lennon and various athletic and entertainment figures) raises all kinds of interesting questions. Here are but a few:

1. Why do so many attach such emotional investment to people whom we don't even know?

2. Why do so many hold such public figures in such high esteem?

3. Why such intensity of the emotion of GRIEF when our knowledge of the person comes from video, CD, television, the Internet and I Tunes? After all, we live in a world in which people are wracked with grief because of tragedies in their personal lives, a world which suffers death each day, in the form of WAR, POVERTY, and HUNGER....

In Michael Jackson's particular case, much of his life was far from laudatory. I hope we are not suggesting it's sensible or acceptable for middle aged men to live out a childish, Peter Pan like life!

Now, having said all of this, I want to say a few other things as well:

* Michael Jackson was an immensely talented singer and performer whose work had the power to touch peoples' souls. I first encountered MAN IN THE MIRROR when a Youth Group member brought the video to a retreat I was leading many, many years ago.....It was downright moving and inspirational....

* Michael Jackson stands in line of a great tradition of music in the African American community. One cannot easily discount his working class roots in the economically challenged city of Gary, Indiana. If anything, this fact has been woefully underplayed in the press.

* Finally, Michael Jackson was a troubled soul who yearned for peace, love and joy in his life. Clearly a victim of abuse in his childhood, he sought inner happiness and desired the same for others. It is sad that this quest took the turns that it did, turns which eventually led to the silencing of a great voice at all too young an age.

May Michael Jackson alas find peace in the loving arms of His Creator. May we who witness this media blitz maintain perspective and keep our own focus fixed not on those things glitzly and transitory, but keep ourselves fixed upon GOD!

Augustine's words, true for Michael Jackson, are true for us as well:

' Our hearts are restless, O God, and they will not rest until they rest in Thee'

May His soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, REST IN PEACE.
AMEN+