Recently we stopped in at Costco to pick up a few things.  A quick trip, mind you.  As we were leaving, the smell of freshly baked bread captured us and the fact we hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch, it was decided we'd grab a quick bite and satisfy our hunger.  We took our seats under an indoor umbrella that advertised some sort of beverage.  As we ate, a parade of high school students began.  All so fresh-faced, young and filled with energy and youthful idealism.   Suddenly, we were surrounded by this gathering of young people.  We became an island and the sea was the waves of all those high schoolers.

This encounter took me back to my own high school days.  This May will mark my 40th high school graduation anniversary.  Where did that time go?  I remember we could not leave the school building for lunch, unless of course you were a Senior and even then, most everyone took their turn in the school cafeteria which was located in the basement of the three story, 1920's building.  The whole place was painted purple and gold, our school colors.  The decor was meant to both instill and stir school pride.  Go Lions.  Go Purple.  Go Gold.  I can still hear the cheers, the clapping of hands and the stamping of feet against the wooden bleachers in the gym.  And there was Sr. Mary Roderick, all six feet of her, standing at the entrance to the building, monitoring and eyeing all of us making sure the girls' skirts were not too high and the boys were not wearing tennis shoes and that we had our ties on.   And while these memories danced about my head, the words of Joni Mitchell's classic 70's "The Circle Game," echoed loudly: "We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came.  And go round and round and round in the circle game." 

I would imagine there are some reading this who may wonder why I desire to have recollection of these memories.  Good question.  My answer:  because these events of 40 years plus helped make me the person I am today.  I can't change the past any more than I can predict the future.  The same can be said of faith:  that is, the faith of my youth helped guide me to the faith I possess and cherish today.  Just as I have grown in physical terms, I have grown spiritually, too. 

I dare say it is safe to conclude we have all grown in our spiritual development, have we not?   St. Paul wrote to the people of Corinth that "when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child and I thought as children.  Yet, when I became a man, I put away childish things."  (1 Cor. 13: 11)  St. Paul perhaps was speaking of his conversion: at one time he served the law and then, with God's grace, he experienced his conversion, his own personal epiphany.  Then, he began to serve God and preach the Gospel of Christ Jesus.  He was a child while serving the law.  As a servant of God, he became a man. 

We are all called to serve God, in our own manner, in our own style and with our own abilities.  When we each fulfill our obligation of serving God, together, imagine how powerful a sacred noise we can make.  In our efforts, in our shared ministry, we continue to grow, to develop into the women and men God desires us to become.  Our actions today are the creation of tomorrow's memories.  It is my hope and prayer that we create blessed and joyful memories.  It is my hope and my prayer that the memories we are creating will serve a greater good for those who are to follow us.  It is my hope and prayer that those who will ask us to 'tell them stories about when we were younger,' will not only be entertained with our recollections, but also, find wisdom, insight and recognize just how great a role Jesus has in our lives.   

Memories are a wonderful thing.  Hold tight to them.  Memories, like a falling flake of snow upon a warm surface disappear quickly never to be seen again.  When we create a memory through our actions today, let us be sure our efforts, our actions are for a good and blessed purpose.  Thinking about Sr. Mary Roderick, all six feet of her standing there, watching us as we entered the school building, she was doing what she believed was of some importance and value.  And, she was right.  Nothing got by her.  Nothing gets by God.  Let's make joyful memories.  Let's make lasting recollections that will bring about smiles and laughter and a deepened faith that has Jesus at the core, now and forever.

Amen.

 

-Manny

The Healing Journey Chapter OSL will hold a Candlemas Generational Healing Eucharist (tentatively with some Inductions) on Friday, Feb. 5th from 7 to 9 PM at St. Nicholas.

All are welcome to attend.  Those wishing to intercede for their family tree (siblings, cousins, parents, aunts, uncles and other ancestors) should create and bring to Mass a copy of their genogram.

There will also be a regular O.S.L. chapter meeting on Fri. Feb. 19th.  As always, all are welcome to attend.