From the first reading for the feast: “For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."

From De La Salle’s Meditations (193.3): “God wills not only that all come to the knowledge of truth but also that all be saved. He cannot truly desire this without providing the means for it and, therefore, without giving children the teachers who will assist them in the fulfillment of his plan."

If there are times that the task at hand seems overwhelming, or there just seems to be too much to do, or perhaps there is one student whom we think is just never going to get it, we can remember that futility and defeat are not options. Isaiah reminds us of God’s promise that the word of salvation for our students will not return to the Lord without having given the water and growth needed to accomplish that necessary educational growth. De La Salle points out that we are the instrument of that word. I am sure that De La Salle knew that we would not be perfect, that there would be times that we would doubt, or that sometimes things would just not work like they should. Yet both Isaiah and De La Salle express confidence: not in us alone, but in us as vehicles for God’s work.

In our prayer this week, let us ask that the bountiful and amazing talents of our staff be even more united with the word and will of God, providing life to the 350 young women and men who come to us for nourishment each day.