REFLECTION:

Today is the first day of school for us. And if you have ever been around a school on the first day, you know there are all kinds of emotions.

Some students are excited. Some are nervous. Some parents are probably more nervous than their children. Teachers are checking their classrooms one more time. Administrators are making sure everything is ready. And somewhere this morning, somebody is going to realize they forgot something!

So maybe today's words from St. Paul are exactly what we need as we begin this new school year: “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Today we celebrate St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr. Lawrence was known for his service to the Church, especially his care for the poor. Eventually, during the persecution of Christians in Rome, Lawrence himself was arrested and put to death. Tradition tells us that Lawrence was martyred on a gridiron over a fire. And somehow, even in the midst of his suffering, Lawrence apparently kept his sense of humor. At one point he supposedly told his executioners: “Turn me over. I’m done on this side.” Now that's commitment!

I don't know if I could be that cheerful while being cooked. Sometimes we can't even be cheerful when someone takes our parking space! But maybe that's why Lawrence is such a wonderful saint for us to celebrate on our first day of school. Because St. Paul doesn't simply say, “God loves a giver.” He says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” There is a difference.

We can give while complaining. We can serve while making sure everybody knows how much we're sacrificing. We can volunteer and spend the whole time wondering why nobody else volunteered. We can do what we're supposed to do, but with an attitude that makes everyone around us wish we hadn't done it at all! And that connects beautifully with our theme for this school year: “Weave One Heart from the Many Strands.”

Today, we begin the weaving.

Think about that image. A single strand by itself can only do so much. But when many strands are brought together and woven together, they become something stronger and something beautiful. Every person who walks onto our campus today brings a different strand.

Our students bring their gifts, personalities, dreams, and even their struggles. Our teachers bring their knowledge, patience, and dedication. Our staff bring their talents and service. Our parents and families bring their sacrifices and support. Every one of us brings a strand. But today's Scripture invites us to ask: What kind of strand am I going to weave into our school this year?

Because we can weave negativity into it. We can weave complaining. We can weave gossip. We can weave division. We can weave the attitude of, “That's not my job,” or, “Why should I have to do that?” Or we can weave something different. Joy. Generosity. Patience. Kindness. Encouragement. Faith. We can become the cheerful giver that St. Paul speaks about.

Maybe that's one very practical way we can live our theme this year. If we really want to “Weave One Heart from the Many Strands,” then each of us has to be willing to give our strand—and give it cheerfully. Because here's the thing about weaving: the strands have to come together. You can't weave something beautiful if every strand insists on going its own direction.

There will be moments this school year when things don't go our way. There will be decisions we don't understand. There will be difficult days, stressful weeks, disagreements, mistakes, and frustrations. That's part of being a community. And when those moments come, perhaps we can ask ourselves one simple question: Am I helping weave us together, or am I pulling the strands apart?

So on this first day of school, perhaps St. Lawrence gives our entire school community a simple challenge: Bring your strand. Give what you have. Give who you are. And give it with joy. And then allow God to take all these different strands—students, teachers, staff, families, parish, and community—and weave us into one heart. Because “God loves a cheerful giver.” And if St. Lawrence could maintain his sense of humor while being roasted on a gridiron, then surely the rest of us can try to keep our joy when the school year gets a little difficult.

And hopefully—unlike St. Lawrence—nobody on the first day of school will need to be turned over because they're already done on one side!