I love being a priest, and as a young priest I have a lot of energy, so I am not afraid to spread myself pretty thin. The other day I was shocked to discover that I’ve put more than 20k miles on my truck since I got it last year.
And while I love visiting with the sick, the elderly, and the dying they are the first to admit that it’s you young people who are the future: of our society, our nation, and our Church
Ok, I know it sounds cliché but it’s true—the world is in your hands and in the hand of your friends and peers, because while your parents generation might be running things right now, while my, ever so slightly younger, generation is waiting our turn it’s your generation that are determining the course of future events—by the choices you make right now! Because you don’t just wake up one day and roll out of bed forty or fifty years old, and decide: today I am going to run for president, or take over a small third world country, or change the world as a great mom or dad. You don’t just decide twenty years down the line I am going to be a saint , or a sinner. Each and every day we live our choices and actions reveal the person that we are and the person that we are choosing to become!
If you choose to be courageous and kind to Love God and try to follow his plan for you today, and tomorrow, and the next day you shouldn’t be surprised if you are still doing these things on the day you die. If you love and respect people, and always put the good of your family, and friends before your own selfish interests now then don’t be surprised if you are loved and honored by many twenty years from now. And if you approach each day of your life as a present, as the gift that it is, from now until the end of high school don’t be surprised if you are happy each and every day—delighted by the goodness of God and His love for you! Of course, sadly the opposite is true! We humans are creatures of habit, good habits, called virtues, or bad habits, called vices.
Realize that what we do today, for good or evil, effects who we are and how well we love in the future. Of course, no matter how many mistakes we make our God and Father loves us and is always willing to set us free from bad choices, and give us another chance. You, my friends are at the threshold of adulthood Now is the time for you to choose, not by empty words but by your actions, the type of people that you want to be, and your choices now will echo throughout your life.
As we hear St. Paul say in his letter to the Corinthians: “when I became a man, I put aside childish things.”
The transition that you are going through now as you prepare for high school, is a transition away from childishness, away from selfishness, and small mindedness, and toward responsibility and greater love. As your minds reach their full maturity and potential now is the time for you to learn about God and to seek His will for your life, now is the time to put aside our childish view of God and to meet the real God, the God of the real world, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob,
The God who tells us “I am Love,” and reveals what love looks like on the Cross.
God has given you hearts and souls and minds with the potential to do great things and be great people it’s been so awesome to walk with you this past year to see this potential in each of you. Hopefully I have helped you a little to activate that potential!
It’s truly been one of the best parts of my priesthood during this past year, working with you because each of you is so full of hope and joy; full of faith about the goodness of today; and in love with life, and even if you don’t realize it, with its Creator, our God. This is wath youth is all about.
Remember that while St. Paul tells us that we must put away childish things. our Lord cautions us not to lose the heart of a child. Being young is about being curious about creation and always standing in awe before it, and about receiving it as a wonderful gift.
I’ve seen this in you and by sharing in your journey you have reminded me why I listened to God’s call to become a priest in the first place.
Don’t be in such a rush to grow up that you lose the love for life, that you all have!
And so I come to the customary words of wisdom to the graduates:
Leaving grammar school is like leaving a protected harbor, the protected harbor of your childhood. Today you will begin the first of many storms, periods of turmoil and change in your life. Personally, I love the excitement of a good storm but while all the storms of life may not be fun, and some may even leave you sick and puking your guts out, remember that each storm is drawing you closer to your destination the peaceful waters and safe haven of God’s kingdom.
Remember that you are God’s children, He really does love you! When the storms of life seem to threaten your very life all you need to do is turn to Him in your need and He will help you.
As you chart your course in these coming years remember that “Love never fails!” Love must be your north star, your beacon and your guide, and so long as we keep our eyes on the Cross of Jesus Christ, we can never lose sight of love.
Practically speaking, be kind to one another there is too much ugliness in the world don’t contribute to it!
Remember that you were put in this world for a reason, not just to get to heaven, but to help those around you get there. God has a special plan for each and every one of you, maybe there is even a vocation to priesthood or religious life listen to God speaking in your hearts, and ask him for the courage to follow Him, even when you would prefer not to!
Make prayer, Sunday Mass, and frequent confession priorities, these are unimaginable sources of strength and peace, and they will get you through any difficulty and get you to heaven.
Finally remember what Jesus said to his disciples: Be not afraid, I will be with you always, even unto the end of the World!
Please know that you are in my prayers, and that as a Father, an image of God the Father I am always there for you if you need me!
May almighty God bless the class of 2010!
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