Pastor's Page

I am once again sharing the words of our Evangelization Coordinator, Tom Griffin. Here he offers a reflection on the transition from summer to the activities of everyday life. – Fr. Gerard

As a teacher, summer break is one of the biggest blessings of my career. It allows for a long period of rest and more intentional time with my wife and children. Family life has a slower pace, which allows for more time together and a focus on what is most important.

While the approach of the school year can bring feelings of worry for many students and teachers, I am challenging myself to be grateful for all of the joys of summer while also recognizing that work is both good for me and fulfilling for my heart. My goal is to prepare for the school year through gratitude for what has been given to me.

St. Therese of Lisieux once said, “Jesus does not demand great action from us but simply surrender and gratitude.” Spending intentional time each day considering what to be grateful for has shown me the power of these words from Therese.

There is a reason why countless saints have recommended that we should end our day with an examination of conscience. This practice calls to mind our sins from the day, but a well-known structure for doing so (the BAKER method) first recommends that we recall what we are grateful for. The acronym stands for:

Blessings (calling to mind what we are grateful for today)

Ask (requesting that the Holy Spirit aid you in seeing your sins from today)

Kill (naming and recognizing that my sin placed Jesus on the cross)

Embrace (cling to Jesus’ love on the cross, knowing that he conquered all sin)

Resolve (make a promise not to sin in the same way tomorrow).

The more we acknowledge our flaws, the better prepared we can be for the next day. The more we practice gratitude, the more we realize that the smallest joys of our day are ultimately a gift from God. Every blessing that we experience is a way for Him to shower an abundance of his love on us.

When I first began the BAKER examination each night, I was more struck by what the blessing process did for me than anything else. As I thought about all of the moments and gifts I was grateful for, I began to become happier.

I have applied this practice as I prayerfully approach the end of the summer.  Whether I recall sharing a deep conversation with my wife, the countless laughs with my children, or our vacation time together as a family, reflecting on what I am grateful for over the last few months has been a restorative process.

It has shown me that the gifts of summer should never be wasted or taken for granted. Intentionally preparing to return to the chaotic school year schedule has also revealed that work is a good thing. Gratitude for time away from work has given me perspective on being more appreciative for the job that I have. This is something that is applicable to those who have summer vacations and those who simply have their vacation days spread throughout the year: The routines of work provide structure to one’s life and the communities we work for also give us a sense of being a part of something bigger than ourselves.

The relationships we form with co-workers tend to become some of the strongest bonds we create because we spend so much time together and because there is much value to working on a common goal together.

For both the summer and for my job, I know I need to be more grateful. For me, this process has all been a lesson in the importance of intentional living. Too often, I become the product of my calendar. I become consumed by the tasks I need to complete or become too easily frustrated by my surroundings so that I neglect to see that there are countless blessings surrounding me. All of this has been shown to me through a daily examination of what I should be thankful for.

This evening practice has convicted me of my sinfulness and need for God’s grace. And, it has (more recently) convinced me that a grateful heart should be my posture, whether at work or enjoying the summer. So, let us all pray for the grace of intentionality and gratitude in our prayer, so that we can be more open to receiving the graces God desires to bestow on us – in all seasons of life.

To receive reflections like these from Tom, go to https://emptytombproject.org/subscribe/.

Peace,