June 5: Baccalaureate and Graduation

Our formation in the faith comes first from home and from our families, especially our parents and Godparents. After that initial inspiration and instruction, we learn from our circle of teachers and friends. Then, all of this is reinforced by our worship in church. In his Letters to Timothy, St. Paul refers to this same sort of background and influence in the life of St. Timothy, “From your infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures.” Earlier he praised the sincere faith of St. Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. It appears that a good and respectful home-life prepared Timothy for his later eager and fruitful ministry. How often do we pray in gratitude for those who have taught us and “formed” us in the ways of the faith?

Our Parish School is celebrating its Baccalaureate Mass today at 8:30am. Our students, who will also celebrate their graduation ceremony later in the day, will be reminded that they have been given remarkable gifts by their parents, their friends, and their Church. They have had countless doors opened for them and they have been supported in supremely generous ways over the past many years. They and we need to be reminded that all such “gifts” initially come from God, like the patience, the dedication, and the compassion of those around us, those whom God has used to show us His blessings. Gratitude and humility will hopefully fill the whole day today – and fill the lives of our graduates forever.