Best of Times

Seeing the contrasts during the Covid crisis

08/07/2020

Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

This pandemic has repeatedly brought to my mind those memorable first lines of Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities. As I read those lines, see if you notice how accurately it applies to our own age. Dickens began: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.” Wasn’t that nice of Dickens not to say “Hell”?

During the last six months (since March) haven’t you heard a lot of wisdom but also foolishness, seen plenty of light but also darkness, and felt acutely all manner of hope as well as despair? Dickens’ novel takes place during the French Revolution (1789-90), a time of tremendous upheaval and unrest. Why did he choose that period? Well, times of crisis really capture that contrast between good and evil. It’s when you run out of money that you figure out who your true friends are because you can’t buy them dinner and drinks anymore. Maybe one blessing of this Covid crisis is we have discovered who our true friends are, and I hope we all discover our best Friend is Jesus.

This crisis has also brought into greater relief the real value of a Catholic school education, that is, knowing Christ. I say this with great respect to public and other private schools, who have remarkable resources and tremendous teachers. But if crises brings out sharper contrasts (as Dickens demonstrated), then this Covid crisis highlights how important it is to have Christ as the Cornerstone of our Catholic school. How so? Well, a friend shared some suggestions that the principal of Overbrook Academy in Nashville, Sr. Julia Marie Eagle, gave her staff to keep in mind this year. Yes, I am totally stealing her stuff. First, she said we need to lean on the Lord in times like these. God draws closest to us when we feel we have nothing left to lose. In other words, when all our other so-called friends have left us, we finally realize we have a faithful Friend in Jesus.

Secondly, she said when you start to feel overwhelmed, stop for a break, and take two minutes to pray. The chief blessing of a Catholic school is the privilege to pray, not only in private, but also in public. I love to see teachers before school gathering in small groups to pray. I hope they pray for me! But I know they are praying for all their students, especially those who might be struggling. Teach you students the power of prayer – both private and public – and how it brings peace. This pandemic brings prayer into sharper contrast because it makes the difference between this year being “the spring of hope” or “the winter of despair.” Take time to pray.

And third, she observed that around week two or three of school, students start to feel depressed. So, make an extra effort to be gentle and kind to each other, to teachers and students alike. You know better than me how uncharted these waters are. Dr. Hollenbeck likes to say, “we all feel like first-year teachers this year” because everything is so new and our skills and strategies are untested. In other words, we need to give extra encouragement for everyone. Tell each other it’s going to be okay. Remind each other that God is in control, even if we are not. And it’s okay to make mistakes. I love that remark that Thomas Edison made while working on the light bulb: “I haven’t failed 10,000 times. I have found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Encourage each other like Edison, and this year will end up “a season of Light” and not “a season of Darkness.”

Please know that I am very proud of you teachers as this school year begins. You have suddenly become front-line workers in an essential service to the society and to the Church in educating our children in the faith. Listen to the Lord’s words in the gospel today for those disciples who take up their cross and follow him. He promises: “For the Son of man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct.” Even Jesus’ promises seem more pronounced during a pandemic.

Praised be Jesus Christ!