A beautiful evening hymn sings a prayer that underscores the contemplative side of our Marist Spirituality: Good Father, send in time of need/ The calming gift of silent grace,/ Lest in our hearts deceit should tear/ The quiet fabric of your peace." In our efforts to evanglize youth, even to deal with our super-charged days, without the "gift of silent grace" our focus will dissolve, discouragement overtake us, and our enegry be dissipated. Not what our Marist Mission demands! This mission is more and more necessary as we see students, much like Jean-Baptiste Montagne, the 17 year old dying boy who knew nothing about God, coming to our schools seeking academic knowledge and opportunities to play sports, but missing the real punch of what a Marist School is, and, more importantly, what the basic foundation for a happy life is. It is we, the adult Marists, who are the teachers, the witnesses, the mentors, whom they need more than a 5 in their AP Calculus class. And we, without that "gift of silent calm" will not be able to meet their needs. May we support one another by lightening loads as we "walk that extra mile", lend the proverbial helping hand, and lend an ear as an easy remedy to someone's frustration. A bystander said of Albert Schweitzer after he helped a woman carry her two suitcases, "That is the first time I've ever seen a walking sermon." May it be said of us as well.
Bro. Rene
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment