Gospel for September 4 2022 – Luke 14:25-33
Gospel Reflections for September 4 2022
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: pens, pencils, notebooks, textbooks, and of course, that pesky homework! All of it goes into a backpack, and at that point, students might think they are ready for school …but they would be wrong.
What went into the backpack were certainly necessary materials, 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 every day.
An attitude of openness and curiosity makes learning easy and even fun. A character of courage helps you face difficult subjects or assignments, and the virtue of 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 also ensures that all schoolwork is done honestly and on time. Taken together, our attitude, character, and virtues combine to instill wisdom and confidence, the most important subjects of all.
A wise student is truly well rounded, having both their material things and their inner character ready and prepared. That student will be more confident and 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 or even money for school. It is what we bring to our school or project that is within ourselves that is most important. Your daily cultivation of virtues such as hard work, honesty, courage, faithfulness, and optimism are what will ensure your future success anywhere. They are the ground upon which is built a happy life.
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 confident and ready for school …and for life.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
I find it amazing that these words written over 2000 years ago contain such Wisdom for today.. Our lives can be lived so much better if we heed the ideas and suggestions contained in them. Our Faith and Traditions show us a way of Truth that make us better People and Human Beings preparing us for Eternal Salvation.
Thanks Father for these Weekly Reminders.
Nice reflection Tom. We could also say that these 2000 year old words have a basis in God …which make them actually eternal!
Love your precious words!!! Love the virtues of honesty, courage, faithfullmess, optimism to be developed and enhansed to insure success in school and in life!! Those wrapped in sharing love, we would have a beautiful world!! have a beautiful day overflowing with our precious Jesus and our mary’s loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
What a good message for the beginning of the school year. I wish that every parent and every teacher had the good fortune to read those words.
I am glad to report that many teachers have told me that they copied this message to their school families. I think that is great!