Reflection for 10/9/19:
As the first three days of this week
have come and gone, I cannot help but be reminded of the different ways God
speaks to us. These first few days this
week, although productive, have been quite challenging for many members of the
OLMC parish and school. Challenge because
of the different areas of our lives which are, and will always remain out of
our control; but also because of those areas in our lives that we have control
yet fail to do so. The Gospels so far
this week addresses many of our most damaging challenges that can be controlled
by our attitudes towards our situation, as well as our attitudes towards
others.
Yesterday, Saint Paul reminded us
that we should never let differences between one another become obstacles to
friendship and love. “If your brother or sister is being injured
by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one
for whom Christ died….For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Likewise, in the First Letter of Peter today,
“Above all, maintain constant love for
one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without
complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold
grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”
These Gospels remind us two things,
that if we are to truly become more Christ-like, we must above all love each
other first. Secondly, that we are not
in control. This second point seems to
be what causes us the most difficulty for, although we are fully aware of this
fact, we fight against it vigorously as if through our arrogance we will
eventually be in control of the world around us. It is that arrogance, that foolish quest to
be in control which damages not only the relationships around us, but our own
well-being. Even in prayer we have
expectations that often are not met and only when we realize how foolish we
have been in those expectations do we fully turn our journey over to God. Why is this; why are we so…so stubborn with
our brothers and sisters, with our God?
I am reminded by a quote from Mark
Twain, “Man is the only animal capable of blushing and, perhaps, the only one
that needs to.” If I take anything from
this week it will be to slow down, listen to God speak to me in the man
different ways He may do so, and to be reminded that each of us has been made
unique with gifts to share and that if I pause for just a second, perhaps God
is speaking to us…to me through them.
Mr.
Swann/Principal
Our Lady of
Mount Carmel