Seeing our Eyes

Seeing both the bad and the blessings

02/09/2021

Genesis 1:20—2:4a Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds.” And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.” God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day.

Can I just vent for a second about how much I hate the coronavirus and the pandemic it has caused? First and most tragically, it has cost the lives of close Trinity family and personal friends, like Dr. Kent Magrini, Betty Hennelly, Van Philaly, and yesterday we buried Enrique Galvan. All of them died of COVID. Second, it has created an enormous new workload for both teachers and students. Teachers had to learn a whole new method of teaching with students staying home and being virtual. Teacher’s workload basically doubled.

Dr. Hollenbeck and Mr. Edwards reinvented the whole school day with students staying safely distanced and wearing masks all day. Coaches and players struggled with seasons that were shortened or games canceled on a moment’s notice. Events were canceled or done virtually taking a financial toll, like the very popular Trinity Gala. Each of you has probably suffered your own share of inconveniences and irritations thanks to this pandemic.

Of course, we don’t need to mention that this year both 8th grade and 9th grade will graduate from Trinity. That means we will lose one year of Catholic school education in Fort Smith, namely, 9th grade. Think about it: Trinity 9th grade will be part of our past, like St. Scholastica Academy that closed its doors in 1968 and St. Anne’s Academy that saw its last students in 1973. This has been a tough year at Trinity. Whew, I just needed to get that off my chest!

But I cannot say it was all bad, that is, this COVID crisis cloud also has some silver linings. For example, we have learned a lot of new technology this year. Thank you, Mr. Hines, the Titan of Technology! Students have continued classes even while quarantined at home. These Trinity Masses are live-streamed now and can evangelize the world. The whole world has a window into Trinity. Even Pope Francis gave us a “thumbs up” recently (just kidding). I also think this COVID crisis has caused us to be closer as a Trinity family as we carry this cross together. I love the old saying: “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” A crisis has a way of sifting people: separating the wheat from the chaff, and we find our true friends.

And last but not least, I have watched proudly as each of you has risen to meet every challenge this crisis has thrown at us. You have made the changes we needed and dug deep into your own character and discovered you can do this. This crisis has taught us we are capable of more than we ever imagined, like St. Paul said in Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” In other words, if we look below the surface struggles of this year, we can find some golden nuggets of God’s grace. But we have to look for them.

These two ways of looking at things – seeing the bad or seeing the blessings – is highlighted by the scripture readings today. Genesis 1 tells the story of creation. Do you recall what God did at the end of each day of creation? We read about his reaction at the end of the sixth day: “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.” In other words, God has an eye for the good, like teenage boys have an eye for pretty girls. God saw not only that everything he made was good, but he could see the good in everything.

But in the gospel, what are the Pharisees’ eyes trained on? They were quick to catch the bad, the mistakes, the sins. We read: “They observed that some of [Jesus’] disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed hands.” God looks at the world and sees blessings; the Pharisees open their eyes and can only see problems and pains; what’s bad and wrong with the world.

Boys and girls, with what kind of eyes do you gaze upon the world? With what kind of eyes do you peer at the people sitting around you? Some people only see the world’s problems and pandemics; others try to see more deeply and can catch the blessing below the surface. And maybe that is another unexpected and surprising blessing of this COVID crisis: maybe it has helped us to see our own eyes.

Praised be Jesus Christ!