“Let today be the day you give up who you’ve been for who you can become.” ~ Hal Elrod
This is most definitely “a month” (for most dramatic effect, said with a bit of exasperation). The month is packed with events and signals of change. Labor Day, the celebration of the Birth of Mary, the commemoration of 9/11, the diocesan Red Mass, and the annual Parish Picnic are all events for which we are planning and which color our days.
As time moves inexorably on, we find ourselves changed, sometimes minimally and sometimes dramatically. The holiday of Labor Day is one that has undergone great change. From when it was first promulgated to the present day, its meaning has shifted greatly and, I would dare say, most people do not know much about it except for it giving them a day off.
The commemoration of 9/11 has also taken on a life of its own. It has given rise to all sorts of practices and to all sorts of interpretations. While the day itself was horrible and many lives were lost, there are few who want to think that the same number of lives are lost on a regular basis to abortion, to wars, to genocides and the like. Commemorating a day can be a good thing; but, we must also remember the bigger picture and do all that we can to safeguard and cherish all people.
We will be gathering later this month — many of us, that is — at our annual Parish Picnic. It is good to remember that we need to set aside time for recreation. We do a lot of work in our parish and in our community. That is all well and good. However, it is important to gather together for nothing more than a good, old-fashioned social. To eat together and spend some time with one another does so much to building and strengthening a community.
This is a month of planning, a month of preparation, a month of gathering, a month of mourning, a month of celebrating, a month of many emotions and actions. This is also a month just like any other month. As we go through each day, looking to the next, we need to remember, at all times, who we are and what we do.
We call ourselves Christian — followers of Christ — and, in doing so we have a grave responsibility to make sure that our words and our actions conform to those of Christ. We need, day by day, to become more like Christ and less like the world in which we live. If we do our jobs well, when people hear us or see us, they will hear or see Jesus Christ.
At the end of this month, we should be entirely different than we were at the beginning of the month. We should be more holy, more prayerful, more loving, more like Christ.
FAITH ACTION: Do all that you can today to live as faithful followers of Christ Jesus, Our Lord.