From today's first reading: "You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. . . I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grown weary holding it in, I cannot endure it."
From Lasallian Reflection 4 (2018-2019): "De La Salle and his first companions made the birth of our Lasallian family possible. They let God touch their hearts, which started beating in unison with the hearts of poor children and young people. God touched the depths of their being and enabled them to walk along with others to set their hearts on fire. They became the source of a new charism for the Church and the world . . . We have freely received a charism as a gift for those whom God has entrusted to us, and who are the center of our mission: our students, especially the poorest among them. This is what our Founder says: 'Act in such a way through your zeal that you give tangible proof that you love those whom God has entrusted to you.'"
What is in the depths of our hearts? What sets our hearts on fire? Jeremiah wrote that it was God, despite his struggle against him. De La Salle and the first brothers discovered the presence of God in their lives.
What are we compelled to do? Jeremiah continued his preaching of the Word of God. The first Lasallians found their call to be a part of the lives of the young, especially the poor, teaching and walking with them.
Perhaps we find it more difficult than Jeremiah and De La Salle, who were not isolated from their communities, to answer these questions. But even in these more insular times, didn't we come to San Miguel to educate the young people entrusted to the care of this school at Lerdo and San Fernando? How has teaching outside of a classroom sharpened our focus on where God makes God's self present in our lives? How has not having students on campus inspired us to walk with them on their journey of faith and education?
Live, Jesus, in our hearts!