From today's first reading: "The LORD said to Moses, 'Go down at once to your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. . . Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation. But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, 'Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand?' . . . So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people."

From today's gospel: "So to them [Jesus] addressed this parable. 'What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy. . .'"

From De La Salle: "Consider Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd of the Gospel, who seeks the lost sheep, puts it on his shoulders, and carries it back to restore it to the fold. Because you are taking his place, consider that you are obliged to do the same thing." (Med. 196.1)

In the middle of this seven to ten day period where we are intensely concerned with grades and student progress, it is helpful to remember that our Lasallian mission is not encompassed only by that which grades capture. In providing the Christian education that is just as much a part of the mission as a human education, have we first, and foremost, shown the mercy to our students which God has shown to us? Are we focused on providing what our students need to bring them back to the fold, and showing great joy when they return?

Live, Jesus, in our hearts!