Gospel Reflections for September 4 2016
Ready for school and…
Each school day begins at home long before the school bell rings. There is the morning scramble to assemble all the stuff needed for the day: pencils, pens, notebooks, textbooks, and of course, that pesky homework! All of it goes into a backpack, and at that point, any student might think he or she was ready for school …but they would be wrong.
What went into the backpack were necessary things, but pens and pencils alone are not enough to make something good happen at school. What every student also needs to bring is what he or she carries inside themselves, their attitude, their character, and the virtues they cultivate.
An attitude of openness and curiosity makes learning easy and even fun. A character of courage and compassion ensures our students will assist others who might need help and even gently correct others who might be getting out of line. A virtue of integrity ensures that all school work done is honest and real. Taken together, our attitude, character, and virtue combine to instill wisdom, the most important subject of all. A wise student is truly well rounded, having both their things and their character ready and prepared. That student will be successful in life!
Today’s Gospel describes a King who has all the stuff he needs to lead an army in battle but had not foreseen the character of the other side. He will lose. The Gospel also describes a person who has all the stuff he needs to build a tower but had not prepared the ground on which it would stand. It will collapse.
It is not enough to have pencils and pens, permits and money. It is what we bring to our school or project that is within ourselves that is most important.
Mother Teresa’s highly public life of service to the poor and dying revealed a powerful inner virtue of courage, love, and compassion. She will be recognized by Pope Francis today for the saint she has always been and the wisdom her life revealed. I hope it is the goal of every parish and school to instill that kind of wisdom in all our young people in all programs. They will be ready for school …and life.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
It never stops amazing me how you come up with all this good stuff. I look forward to your Gospel Reflections each week and ponder them again at the reading on Sunday
Fortunately, I have very good material to work with!
Your words Father Dave touch our hearts and lead us on a beautiful path to living a faith filled,, spiritual, moral life of love!! !!With our hearts filled with a character of courage and compassion,virtue of integrity and an attitude of openness , we will make the world spiritually beautiful!!! It all begins with our loving parents and in Kindergarten (hahahaha since I taught Kindergarten) and we must instill those concepts in everyone’s hearts for the rest of our lives!!! Have a precious day in Jesus and our Blessed Mother’s love for they love you for being beautiful you !!! Love our Mother Theresa of forever giving love!!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you, and thanks for all those years teaching Kindergarten!
I loved it!!!
Loveeeeee, Franca
Thank you!
Fr. Dave,
Great advise in your Commentary for those two granddaughters of mine who are just starting a new year in high school………..a very challenging time. I’ve printed your comments and they’ll have them today!
God bless!
Larry,
Great! I hope they find them useful.
What a great message for students! We get so caught up in the mechanics of life that we overlook the really important issues, as you point out. I hope and pray that many students, young and old, will see your message and benefit from it. Thanks!
That is my hope as well!
Thank you Fr. Dave for sticking me back into the fold. My prayers for you, Val
Lost sheep that return are our favorite sheep!
I completely agree. Thank you, Father Dave, for your comments. They’re always clearly expressed and ring true.
You are welcome!
Having wisdom lets us see the whole picture from God’s perspective, as we strive
to conform our lives to His. Do we respond to a situation from God’s viewpoint, or do we
choose a worldly way, chasing the wind that leads to a no good outcome?
Let us pray for wisdom to discern God’s way for us.
We heard you on the computer, Fr. Dave, You sounded great, speaking words of “wisdom”
Are you enjoying your new adventure on the radio?
Yes, I am enjoying the Monday through Thursday radio show at 5pm. It is a live show so I always have to make sure I am in my room and at the microphone ready to go. I also have been listening to the other shows on AM 930 on my car radio whenever I am driving.
Thank you, Father Dave, for these words of wisdom. I will pass this on to my grandchildren. Wisdom is so important. I have been praying for wisdom not only for our leaders but for all the world’s leaders. At this time when the responsibility is approaching to elect a new President, it is imperative that we all pray for wisdom. God bless you and shower you with His love and grace.
Yes, this is a time to ask for wisdom for ourselves, and our future leaders!
There is a lot of Wisdom in this Gospel and your response. In all the years we have seen when projects get started with no thought behind it. Turns out pretty bad. Good preparation is needed in all we do and it starts with prayer.
Always start with prayer!
Well said, Fr. Dave. We can all sit in a classroom as students, but what we get out of the lesson depends on what we invest in it. As Catholics, we are called to be “active” students in our Lord’s ministry.
Well said as well!
Hi Father Dave, Thank you for another great Gospel Reflection. I love them, just as I used to love your homilies at St. Gen’s all those years ago. I look forward to your next ones. Much love and God Bless. Concetta
I loved my time at St. Genevieve parish!
Fr. Dave, very well said, I look forward to your writing every week. If every student across the land had this message, just think how many lives could be changed, or at least get them thinking in the right direction, young and old.
Thank You and God Bless
I was glad to hear that a number of schools read this article to their students. I am profoundly grateful and humbled by that!
Thank you Fr. Dave…I Look forward to my weekly dose of your “Soul Supplement’ waiting for me in my email box 📬 ✉️ 😊
Stay tuned for more!