When Life Begins

Appreciating the value of Catholic high schools

2/02/2025

Luke 2:22-32 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in  peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

One of the most vexing questions is when does life begins? Here is a humorous answer. A minister, a priest, and a rabbi were discussing when life begins. The minster argued eloquently that life begins at birth. The priest insisted that the teachings of the Church made it clear that life begins at conception. The rabbi replied: “You both have it wrong! Life begins when the last child moves out and the dog dies.” My apologies to Apollo for that joke!

But if you were to ask Bruce Springsteen when life begins he would tell you life begins, and probably ends, in high school. In his popular song “Glory Days” he describes the best times in life are enjoyed in high school. The Boss sings: “I had a friend was a big baseball player / Back in high school / He could throw that speed ball by you / Make you look like a fool. /

“Saw him the other night at this roadside bar / I was walking in he was walking out / We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks/ But all he kept talking about was…Glory days / Well, they’ll pass you by / glory days / In the wink of a young girl’s eye, glory days / Glory days.”

Now, with all due respect to the minister, priest, and the rabbi, I have to agree with the Boss’s answer that life begins in high school. Why? Well, because in so many ways that is when a young person becomes awake and aware of themselves and the world around them.

For instance, in high school we begin to discover who we are – our talents and strengths, our weaknesses and failures, our interests and maybe our purpose in life. Moreover we relate to others on a whole new level, like falling in love with your high school sweet heart. In short we begin to really live on the natural level.

Now, what if, in addition to this beginning of life on a natural level, you also experienced a beginning of life on the spiritual level? What do I mean? I am talking about having a profound encounter with Christ. And that is exactly what can (and should) happen in a Catholic high school.

That is why I am so passionate – some would say obsessed – about promoting them, like designating this weekend “Catholic high school Sunday.” We will have representatives from Subiaco Academy and Ozark Catholic Academy speaking at the 10 a.m. and 12 noon Spanish Masses today. In other words, Catholic high schools exist to teach us that life does not begin until we know Jesus Christ.

As you know, we have not had a Catholic high school in Fort Smith since 1973. It was truly tragic when St. Scholastica Academy closed in 1968 and St. Anne’s High School was shuttered in 1973. But today we have safe and reliable transportation from Fort Smith to two outstanding Catholic high schools: Subicao Academy to the east and Ozark Catholic Academy to the north in Tontitown.

Both schools offer an excellent college preparatory education, a wide array of extracurricular activities and sports, and a strong “esprit de corps” of student life. But for my money, the real edge for these schools is that they introduce their students to the best Friend they will ever have, namely, Jesus Christ. And Jesus gradually teaches us that as great as the natural glory days of high school are – like throwing a fast-ball pitch – the supernatural glory days will be far greater.

One friend captured the immense value of Catholic high schools saying this: “A Catholic high school is essentially the Catholic Church’s youth ministry program.” In other words, just like Protestants pour millions of dollars into high-powered, high-technology youth ministry programs, so we Catholics pour millions of dollars into our high-powered, high-theology Catholic high schools. You see, all Christians agree that teens need to know Christ.

This weekend we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord also known as “Candlemas.” Why is it called that? Well, because today Jesus is presented in the Temple and righteous Simeon prophesies that Jesus is, “a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” We bless candles as symbols of Christ, the Light of the world, and Israel’s glory.

And today’s feast suggests a subtle but significant connect with Catholic high schools. How so? Well, in those 4 years many young men and women hear a call to the religious life, to be a priest or nun. Why do you think Subiaco monks run an all-boys high school? Why did the St. Scholastica nuns run an all-girls high school? They are recruiting the next generation of monks and nuns. They are not dumb; they know when life begins.

But Jesus is recruiting in every Catholic high school, too. And that is where he caught me. I felt called to priesthood in high school and entered the seminary after graduation. That is why they call me “a lifer.” You see, this too is part of celebrating the Presentation. Each Catholic high school shines the light of Christ into the heart of its students.

And every high school student who pursues a religious vocation in effect grabs that blazing Torch of Christ’s light and shines it on the world today. The Presentation, in other words, provides the highest raison d’être for why Catholic high schools exist: to teach that life only begins when we know Christ, and that our glory days are still to come.

Praised be Jesus Christ!