One of the things about the first couple of weeks of school that is not quite as joyful as reuniting with our students is the feeling that we often get that we are not quite in control. Schedules shuffle, students are not quite as talented or docile as we remembered them or hope for, the great plan we thought of in the summer that we could not wait to try did not go quite as we wanted. . . the list goes on. What is the remedy?
From Sunday's gospel: "Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him."
From De La Salle (Med. 18.1): "The Gospel tells us that our Lord was transfigured while praying on a very high, lonely mountain. This teaches us that God pours out his consolation on souls who devote themselves a great deal to prayer and who love this holy exercise."
Every student we have needs us, no matter for a moment or for an extended time, whether high on the list of top performers or one who has not shown us much yet, excited to be here or dragged in and enrolled by his abeula. As we get into the nitty-gritty of the year, please resolve to seek help in prayer, that God will extend his consolation to us and strengthen and inspire us more and more for the benefit of these young people whom God has entrusted to us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts!