Making Something New

Good morning, class of 2023. You have just heard two readings from the Bible and I am

going to give a short reflection on them. The first reading was about God creating a new thing; the second about Jesus calling new disciples to follow Him. This year, you will be taking a theology class about the Bible and one idea that you will be hearing is this: the Bible is addressed to each of us here today, not just to the original audience two or three thousand years ago.

So, when we hear God saying, “behold, I am making something new” in that first passage, what He is talking about is you! You are becoming something new today, with you choices and with God’s help. You are becoming a high school student and more specifically, a Mercy girl. You are beginning a new journey in your life and a process of becoming a new person.

What is a Mercy girl? I suspect you have already begun to form an idea through your experiences here at this academy and from your encounters with the young women who are our students. I want you to think about a Mercy girl that you have met and who helped you decide to come to school here. What is she like? What qualities does she have? What are some of the things that you like about her that you would like for yourself?

Now, I want you to picture yourself gaining some of those abilities and qualities over the next four years. Imagine what you will look like when you are ready to graduate. In the Gospel reading, Jesus told two fishers to take their boat out into deep waters. If you have ever been out on a boat a long way from the shores, you know that this can be a scary, dangerous thing.

What you are doing now is scary, too. You have maybe been in the same grade school for up to 9 years. You were probably comfortable and happy there. Now you are being called to a new, unfamiliar place. The water is very deep and you can’t see the shore.

Jesus says to you, as he did to his original followers, “Don’t be afraid. I am going to do great things with you. Come and follow me.” You too are called to keep pushing out into the deep and to put your nets out into the waters.

God bless you, new Mercy girls.

Comments

Render unto God

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Oct 17/18, 2020 Somehow, in the great providence of God, our readings for mass today are the famous “render unto Caesar” Gospel passage. With 17/ 16 days to go in our presidential election, what on earth does God have to say to us about politics and civic engagement in the midst of this chaotic, stressful, and divisive election year? Much ink has been spilled and many sermons given on Catholics’ faithful citizenship and participation in our democracy. In my reading and prayer preparation for today, however, I began to feel that “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” is not the important part of Jesus’ response, even though those are the words we remember and quote. The critical words here are from the second half, “render unto God what is God’s.” How often do we give Caesar more than his due? How often do we give Caesar what belongs to God? [Reminder of the...

A Son is Given to Us

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122520-mass-at-night.cfm In the first reading tonight, we hear a very familiar passage from the prophet Isaiah proclaimed: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light… for a child is born to us, a son is given to us. Upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” Six years ago at midnight mass, I heard these words while sitting in the pews. My wife, Kate, and I went with my family to Holy Trinity parish. I remember it vividly because ten days before the two of us had found out that she was pregnant. Our Christmas Eve was in that electric time when no one else, only she and I knew the secret: a great joy had just entered into the world. Holy Trinity that night was jammed packed. So full that we sat in overflow seating in a separate section of the church with no view of the altar and with the audio piped into our room. That suited us fine because she needed to sit cl...

The Four Trees of Christmas

Merrcy Christmas, Bellarmine. Since we are here in Our Lady of the Woods Chapel the university, I thought it would be appropriate to preach about trees tonight. The Christmas tree has become a central symbol of the holiday. Bellarmine has a beautiful, evergreen up on the quad that’s at least 50 feet tall. Every Advent, it is strung up with lights and the university hosts a lighting event every year in late November. Kate and I have taken our kids there the last few years. We have some wonderful pictures of our kids’ faces lit up by both the lights and with joy at looking at the tree. Last year, our oldest, EJ, got to help Dr. Donovan flip the magic switch that illuminated the tree. It’s well known that German pagans worshipped oak trees before they became Christians and this might have something to do with the tradition. However, they rapidly transformed the Christmas tree into a symbol of Christ, who is ever green. Who is a source ...

Foot-washer

Search This Blog