March 19: Kiera Harris ’27
Good morning! My name is Kiera Harris of the Class of 2027. Welcome to the Mass celebrating the Solemnity of St. Joseph.
In today’s Gospel, we discover that St. Joseph was truly just as ordinary as ourselves. St. Joseph was given the honor to be Jesus’ father on Earth. He abruptly found out that his wife, Mary, was pregnant, and accepted the potential scandal others might presume about him. He was a respected man who took God’s law seriously, but desired to protect his bride-to-be, even if it meant taking on the shame himself. And that, we may expect, was scary. In reflecting upon this, we can learn from St. Joseph’s example of courage, grace and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
For the past three summers I have had a job as a golf caddie. Our system works where I have no guarantee of making money any day. I just have to show up at 6:45 every morning and hope I’ll get a job on the golf course, also known as a loop, before my plans later that night. One day in particular, I really wanted to go home. So, when my caddie master asked me “Kiera, I have a loop now for you, but it may not pay well, do you still want it?” I was hesitant, but agreed to go, knowing that once I was done I could go home. My member explained to me that all he really wanted me to do was help his female client who wasn’t truly that familiar with golf. During the round I bonded with her, laughing as she recounted her own time in high school. We made connections over the clothing stores we liked and found out we knew a few families in common. And, it turned out that I was paid generously; even though earlier I was warned this member might not. However, after the experience of the round, the money was not that important to me. Rather, I found the chance to help this client most rewarding. This opportunity I received had an unknown outcome, but in saying “yes,” I was rewarded well.
St. Joseph was rewarded for agreeing to the unknown too. In being chosen to be the foster father of Jesus he was asked to take on a responsibility that he could not possibly have understood. Just like my caddie master selected me for this task knowing my abilities, and asked me to trust in his pairing, God called Joseph for a special role and asked St. Joseph to trust in Him as well.
God has a way of blessing us with a plan oftentimes so opposite and far from our own, yet it is more purposeful and fruitful than we could have expected. However, it is important to recognize God’s choices in regards to His plan for us because they can serve as a good reminder. Both when we reflect on what we have been prioritizing, and, in turn, when we take time to think about what we can work on. After all, what we worry about most reveals what we trust God in least.
In Scripture, St. Joseph never spoke. Instead, his faith and trust in God were present solely in his actions. Most notably, the great dedication he displayed when navigating his roles as a husband and father. This goes to show that actions are just as, if not more, important than our words.
Let us consider how our actions reflect our lives of faith, in particular this Lenten season. Have you followed through with your Lenten promise? Have your actions prepared you for Easter? Another way to ask that is: have you learned how to love others better this Lenten season? If the answer is yes, great. If not, could you be more diligent in your practice of generosity and kindness – and make an effort to at least compliment one person a day?
St. Joseph shows us that no matter what the circumstance, we need to trust God to guide us. That being said, let’s finish out Lent courageously and trusting in God to lead us into becoming the people He wants us to be. Remember we should not only speak, but act.
God bless. Thank you Friars.
February 18: Ryann Michelle Dawson ’26
Good morning Friars. I’m Ryann Michelle Dawson from the Class of 2026. Welcome to Mass.
I’m really excited to speak today. You see, growing up, I loved Ash Wednesday. I’ve been in Catholic schools since kindergarten (shout out to classic league), but as a non-Catholic, in Mass, I constantly felt separated: you were either Catholic or an “other.” Despite this, there was one day where everyone no matter what religion, background, or culture got the same thing: Ash Wednesday. So, it became my favorite Mass of the year.
Fast forward: sophomore year, after Ash Wednesday Mass, in the middle of second period. Someone was getting on my nerves. I’d like to think of myself as pretty patient, but this person routinely annoyed me; and when I turned in my seat to finally respond, I saw the ashes on their forehead. Two things: First, yes this really happened. Second and more importantly, I was reminded of the fact that we’ve all had to memorize: we are all made in the image of God. And, as my Nana tells me constantly: Ryann Michelle, God has no favorites. I quickly remembered that the person who was, albeit, annoying, was equally as much a part of God’s kingdom as I was.
Let’s take it a step further. How many of us are Christian? You don’t have to raise your hand if you don’t want to, but it’s a lot of us. Have you heard the saying, “You are the only Bible most people will read.” Well, in today’s reading, you’ll hear us referred to as ambassadors of Christ. But it’s not in the way that most of us think – posting on our story, writing a Bible verse on our cleats. No, we’ve all been guilty of participating in conversations like: “She did what with who? I thought she was all Christian-y.” Or, “Isn’t that the guy that posts all that Jesus stuff, and he talks like that?” What makes us followers of Christ is not defined by our attendance at Mass, reading the Bible, or knowing who Saint Thomas Aquinas is, but – as the song goes – “They will know we are Christians by our love,” and our actions.
So let’s ask ourselves: how am I loving all of God’s people? Not just the ones we want to love – our friends, family, people who subscribe to the same beliefs as us. No – everybody: the atheists, the Muslim, the immigrants, the Packers fans. (That last one is really hard for me.)
God’s grace and love is not like Pop the Balloon – kind of a wild comparison, I know. A lot of us have seen the viral clips. If you somehow haven’t: someone says their attributes and, if people don’t like it, they pop a balloon to show they’re not interested. Well, God isn’t like that. No matter the job you work, friends you have, color you are, belief you follow, people you’ve been with, things you’ve said, things you’ve done, or things you should’ve done – God’s grace and love are always extended not only to you, but to every other person in this world. And if I can be candid: we (yes, myself included) are all failing at Jesus’ greatest instruction, to love one another as He loved us. When we strip people of their dignity, of their ability to feel safe, we refuse to see the ash cross on their heads and see Christ in them.
So, this Ash Wednesday, let’s reimagine the world we’re in. One where we act like we have a visible mark, like the ashes on our heads, on us every day, letting people see that we represent Jesus, and treat others like they have one too.
January 28: Elissa Scholtens ’26
Good Morning Friars! My name is Elissa Scholtens, a member of the Class of 2026. Today, January 28, is the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a saint you might recall seeing with a book or a scroll on hand in a few of the various statues and pictures throughout our halls. As a renowned theologian and Doctor of the Church, Aquinas devoted his life to an endless search for an understanding of our world and its Creator during the early years of the Dominican Order.
Pope Pius V, who declared Aquinas as a Doctor of the Church, also called him “the most brilliant light of the church.” Being a “light” is a phrase that many of us have probably heard before. We might use it to describe a true friend, a person whose presence simply elevates a room, or a source of joy in our lives. In reflecting on today’s Gospel reading from Matthew where Jesus tells his disciples, “You are the light of the world,” I began to realize the depth of what this common phrase means to us as Christians.
The concept of Jesus calling me the light of the world can feel difficult to wrap my mind around. Some of you might feel the same way. I’m a sinner, why should I deserve this gift? Upon pondering this question, a further inspection of Jesus’s words reveals the gentle and vulnerable truth of this statement: we already are lights of the world. Jesus isn’t saying “go try to be the light of the world.” He is giving us an identity in Him by saying that we are the light of the world and then encouraging us to spread it to all nations. No goal needs to be met, no price paid; by simply being a follower of Christ we are the light of the world. It is a grace. It is a gift.
Now you might be asking, why is being a light a gift? Well, let me set a scene for you. It’s January, one of the coldest, driest and darkest months of the year. As Fenwick students, we are very busy, and each week we might feel like we’re going through the motions of school, practice, homework, repeat, often coming into weekends feeling very burnt out. Days blur together and, for me, it becomes hard to remember what I even did each day. I get so focused on accomplishing tasks or achieving goals that, before I even realize, a test or project has become the crux of my week. Even when grades come back good or a project is done well, I’m still burnt out and this is what makes me realize: I am trying to define myself based on the things that I do or accomplish.
Yet, how was Aquinas, a man who wrote and studied all day just like us, able to be one of the brightest lights of the Church? What did he center his identity around?
St. Thomas focused his studying and writing on his search for God throughout our world, treating each task as a vessel in which he could better understand God and His creation. By sharing his learning through writing, he was a light and brought others to God. So, being a light of the world is a gift because it is an identity that gives us a purpose and motivation in all that we do: loving and knowing God and others.
Now, I have a challenge for you as January ends and February, another cold and dark month begins. Continue to give your school work your all, as Aquinas definitely did not slack off, but in these grind-filled days when your head is down and the gas pedal is floored, every so often just stop. Look up. Look around. Remember that you already have an identity. God made YOU the light of the world. God made YOU the light of the world. No good grade or accomplished assignment will satisfy this longing to know who you are. Jesus won the battle, the gift of light is yours. How will you use it? So sit with someone new at lunch, study each subject like it is revealing to you the wonderful mysteries of God’s creation, and smile at others in the hallways.
Being the light of the world is being kind, being humble, and knowing God, just how Jesus shows us to be.
December 8: William Ristau ’26
Hello everyone! My name is William Ristau of the Class of 2026. I’d like to welcome you all to Mass in celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today the Church celebrates the role Mary played in the life of Jesus. On this day, Our Blessed Mother Mary was conceived without sin so that she could be the mother of Jesus.
In today’s Gospel we hear Mary, in the presence of the angel Gabriel, say to God: “May it be done to me according to your word.” This line stood out to me because it indicates Mary’s obedience to our Lord and can serve as a stepping stone for our faith. Many of us are around the age Mary actually was when she encountered the angel Gabriel early in her life – only 14 or 15 at the time. At the time of this message being delivered to her, Mary did not know what challenges lay ahead of her. In studying Jesus’ life, we know that being his mom was not an easy task – His always getting lost in the temple was quite the burden. But all humor aside, being present at her Son’s Crucifixion and Death on the Cross was something Mary did not know she would have to endure. With a life of sainthood ahead of her, Mary put the control in God’s hands through her simple words of acknowledgement of God’s command. Therefore, I want to ask “How can we, modelling after Mary, trust God in our own lives?”
I believe the answer is prayer. I recently heard a fellow Catholic say: “Prayer is not for God to change his mind. Prayer is meant for us to conform with God’s will.” Sometimes, this can even mean accepting the more difficult path. I personally believe all of us made a strong choice attending Fenwick. As a Freshman, I remember waking up early to take the train 40 minutes in the cold to get to school each day. I’m sure some of you sitting up in the balcony can relate. Now as a senior, my peers and I are constantly wondering if our college applications are all up to date, and soon, if we got into the college of our dreams.
These challenges we face each day may be minute, but in reality they prepare us for larger challenges God puts in front of us in our future lives: the first job interview, when we are charged with the illness of a family member, or when the task comes upon us to care for the less fortunate. All of these challenges can be supported through prayer, whether it be long or short, just like Mary’s was. Personally, I talk to God in the morning on the car ride to school. Any place or time works – God will find you, just like He did with Mary.
What I would like to encourage you all with as we enter into Mass is placing our full faith in God even when things are unclear. I challenge us all to be more prayerful, trustful and obedient to God and His word as we move through our day and beyond. Thank you.
November 3: Heaven Lee ’26
Good morning. My name is Heaven Lee from the Class of 2026. Today we are gathering to celebrate St. Martin de Porres, a great Dominican saint that exemplified the same gifts I will discuss with you today. St. Martin spent his life taking care of the poor, sick and marginalized, regardless of their status or race. In his life, he chose the things that were “honorable, pure and good”, and in doing so was able to reflect God’s love and compassion onto others.
In today’s first reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Phillipians, we are reminded that the peace of God surpasses all understanding. In his letter, Saint Paul encourages them, and us, to not only recognize God’s peace and joy, but to rejoice in them. Paul calls us to rejoice in the Lord always – to find joy not just in the good times but in the bad as well.
To rejoice means “to feel or show great joy or delight.” At first, this may sound simple – just be happy, right? But Paul isn’t simply instructing us to smile through every situation or pretend like things are okay when they’re not. Paul is reminding us that true joy doesn’t depend on what’s going on around us. Rather, it comes from trusting that God is with us regardless of life’s circumstances.
Being a teenager is hard: balancing school, a social life, sports and faith, all while trying to plan a future can cause a great deal of anxiety and stress. At times, it can feel like everything is just moving too fast and it can feel impossible to just stop and be peaceful. Paul reminds us in the reading that peace isn’t something we have to go out and find for ourselves, and that true peace is given to us by God when we turn to Him.
When we pray instead of worrying, choose kindness instead of anger, and think about the things that are “honorable, pure, and good” we make room for the gift of peace that God will grant us. The peace that God provides us with isn’t the kind of peace that makes our problems vanish. It is the kind of peace you have in the middle of a bad storm that reminds you that it will eventually come to an end. It’s the kind of peace that assures us that despite our struggles, anxieties, mistakes, and failures, God is still with us through it all and that we are never alone.
St. Martin loved a world that often rejected him, yet he never responded with anger or resentment. Instead, he chose kindness, humility, and forgiveness. Rather than dwelling on what he lacked, St. Martin rejoiced in what he could give. He found peace in prayer, in service, and in the belief that God was always with him. His example challenges us to find peace and joy not in what the world gives, but in what God provides.
So, as we enter into the rest of the week, I would like to pose a challenge to all of us. I challenge us to rejoice – not because things will always be perfect, but because we are loved by a perfect God. In choosing God, especially during times of uncertainty or stress, we are granted the peace and security that we can only obtain through God. Through a relationship with God, we are granted the fruits of the Spirit – love, peace, joy and patience – that can get us through whatever challenges we may face.
Rejoicing can look very different from person to person. This could look like including God in your busy day by updating Him about how you’re feeling, saying a short prayer when you feel overwhelmed, choosing to be kind when challenged with a hard situation, or just taking a second to give Him thanks. When we rejoice in this way, we invite God’s peace into our hearts and minds, a peace that surpasses anything we could imagine.
May the peace of God surround us all and fill our hearts with joy. Thank you.
October 26: Tessa Timpone ’27
Good morning. My name is Tessa Timpone, and I am a member of the Class of 2027. Class rings and commemorative pins are more than symbols of achievement as they are expressions of who you are and the journey you have undertaken. Each ring and pin carries the crest of Fenwick High School, a reminder of the dedication, growth, and hard work that have brought us to this point. They symbolize belonging, connecting us to a community larger than ourselves and to the shared experiences of every one of us. Today, as we honor this milestone, we recognize not only our accomplishments but also the values, leadership, and commitment that will guide us in the next chapter of our high school journey.
For as long as I can remember, I knew I was going to attend Fenwick High School. Growing up in River Forest, just ten minutes away, I was surrounded by people who loved Fenwick: my babysitters, my neighbors, my older classmates – all Friars. I couldn’t imagine attending anywhere else.
I’m one of five kids, right in the middle, and I’ve gone to Catholic school my whole life. I started at St. Luke’s in River Forest, but in 2020, my family moved across the country to Arizona, where I attended St. Theresa. Then, just a year later, we moved back to Illinois, this time to Western Springs, and I began at St. John of the Cross.
At that point, things looked a little different. All my new friends talked about going to Nazareth, Lyons Township, and even Benet. But deep down, I knew Fenwick was where I was meant to be, even if it meant a 30-minute drive and leaving some friends behind. I thought long and hard about it, but my heart never changed.
In eighth grade, I took the Fenwick entrance exam. A few months later, I was officially a Friar. My older brother drove me most days, but learning the train system became my first real “Fenwick challenge.” It was one of those small, funny moments that reminded me how far I was willing to go for this school.
Like most freshman students, I was nervous on the first day, but it didn’t take long before Fenwick started to feel like home. I met some of my closest friends, joined clubs, and even earned a spot on the varsity lacrosse team.
It’s wild to think that just two years ago, I was a freshman, looking up to the juniors and wondering what it would be like to stand where they stood. And now, here I am, sitting in the same seats I once did, just a little older, and hopefully a little wiser.
What does wearing the Fenwick crest mean to me? Fenwick isn’t just a school, it’s a family. We spend seven hours a day together, five days a week, nine months a year, for four years straight. And in that time, Fenwick becomes more than a place; it becomes part of who we are.
The most incredible privilege of all is not just the education we receive, but the opportunity to grow in faith every single day. Fenwick has taught me that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. I came to Fenwick loving God, but I will leave Fenwick knowing Him. The Fenwick crest, to me, is a blessing. It unites us as students, reminding us that while each of us faces our own challenges, we all share one thing in common: we are Friars.
Although each of us has had different experiences and walked different paths at Fenwick, one truth unites us all: we want to be remembered. We want to know that our time here mattered and that we left a mark on this community and on the lives of those around us. These years, filled with challenges, growth, friendships, and achievements, are more than just moments in time; they are the foundation of the people we are becoming.
As you wear your rings and pins, let them serve as a tangible reminder of the impact you have made on Fenwick High School and the ways in which this school has shaped you. They are symbols of connection, of the relationships you have built, and of the contributions, big and small, that make this community stronger. Your ring or pin carries the story of your journey, a story of dedication, perseverance, and the unique imprint you leave behind. In this way, the legacy of your time at Fenwick is not measured only in accomplishments, but in the lasting difference you make in the lives of others and in the life of our school.
October 3: Sean Bell ’26
Sean Bell ’26 provided the student reflection before Fenwick’s all-school Mass on Friday, October 3, 2025.
Good morning and welcome to today’s Mass. My name is Sean Bell and I am a proud member of the Class of 2026.
In today’s readings, you will hear about Paul’s letter to the Galatians: a short one, but one that is complex and hard for a non-theologian like me to understand after just an initial read. I had to do some research to learn about Paul and the messages he tried to convey to early Christians after the death of Jesus. I learned that Paul had his fair share of critics for not believing that rituals like circumcision were more important than how people behaved.
In his writing, Paul urges us to fully allow God into our lives so that we will be transformed and not simply be satisfied with exhibiting what would traditionally be thought of as the outward signs of being a good Christian. How often do we, as young people, come to Mass, stand, kneel, and recite the prayers we’ve been taught since we were children but not fully engage in our own “new creation,” one in which our hearts and minds are one with Christ? Now, I cannot lie and say my own mind does not wander at times—sometimes it’s really hot inside this auditorium (trust me, I get it)—but Paul’s reminder that the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross for our redemption is pretty much endgame for him. None of the trappings of life mean anything to Paul in comparison. With all the noise surrounding us each day through social media, constant news (most of it bad), and unending messages trying to sell us stuff, how do we learn to turn it off and focus on the “enoughness” of Jesus’ sacrifice?
My mom once heard a college football coach on Game Day talk about his team’s goal. The goal was simply being the “aggregation of marginal gains.” The average NFL running back rushes for about 3-4 yards every time he gets the ball, slowly moving his team downfield until that little 4-yard rush happens to end in the end zone. In a similar way, the little gains in our day build up to our successes and accomplishments. That phrase has now become one that is regularly used in our house. I think it’s not about doing it all in one day; it’s about the little things that take us in the right direction. For me, I try to do this by visiting the chapel before school. I like trying to sit in the stillness and get in the right mindset before the start of the day.
What are the little things that you can do that will set you in the direction of and bring you closer to God? Not only by practicing the rituals and traditions of the church, but by living our faith in our daily life. Seeing all people as our brothers and sisters and, like Paul, offering grace instead of judgement to those with whom we disagree.
These gains are indeed little wins and they are within reach for all of us. When we focus on the little things; focus on how we can live our life through Christ; that is when we become the “new creation” that Paul describes in his letter to the Galatians. That is when the “new creation” gives us hope for the future.
Each day, I encourage us to take these little steps; the little wins; the marginal gains in our lives. Because when we start that journey, our hearts begin to change, our relationships grow deeper, and our lives begin to reflect the love and grace of Christ. It is through these small, faithful steps that we move closer to God and help bring His kingdom into the world—one act of love, one moment of compassion, one little win at a time.
September 19: Mack Hamilton ’26
Mack Hamilton ’26 provided the student reflection before Fenwick’s all-school Mass on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Good morning Friars, my name is Mack Hamilton from the Class of 2026. Welcome to Mass, it’s an honor to be able to speak to you all.
“What is your deepest desire?” Is it fitting in? Making money? Is it making the starting lineup? Earning straight As and being accepted into that college that would make your life magical? Or is it something else?
For me, coming into Fenwick my greatest desire was to feel validated and noticed by my family, my classmates, my teachers and my coaches. I did not want to be known as the kid who was just “Mae’s little brother.” For those of you who haven’t had the chance to meet my older sister, she is both my best friend and yet my biggest rival. She graduated from Fenwick in 2023, leaving me some medium-sized shoes to fill (we are not big people).
Mae was popular and athletic. If you meet her and she tells you she’s taller than me; she’s lying. I wanted to be all these things, but more. I wanted to prove to my family that I could do it all. Even though I almost need a step-stool to reach the podium today, my big personality, and sometimes, my big brain could make up for it. And so, when I stepped onto the hockey rink for the first time freshman year with the Fenwick hockey team, I quickly realized that brains and personality might not get you too far in a hockey game.
After a practice full of falling down, missed shots, and bad reps, I found myself being the athlete that I did not want to be. Initially I felt trapped, behind my peers, and disappointed in myself. I resorted to complaining to my parents, and feeling sorry for myself because of my size; I was given something that I couldn’t control. I thought I was the worst. A failure. I thought that everyone else had it better than me in almost every way.
But then, I came to the realization that everyone has something going on that they wish they didn’t. It all started after a hockey game on a Saturday night. I was tired and frustrated after the game. I was in the kitchen starting my homework, when my mother walked in with a blank, yet emotional expression on her face. She then told me that two of my middle-school friends’ mothers had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I immediately felt scared and concerned for my friends. I spent the next months reaching out to those friends, checking in with them, and praying for their mothers and their health.
A while later, I ran into them at a casino themed birthday party. I had just lost all of my “casino money” and was mad and ready to go find somewhere to pout. Then I saw my friends talking at the poker table. They were laughing contagiously with each other, and in my mind, did not look like people who had mothers with cancer. I went up to them, and after a short conversation, I asked them how they despite their mother’s conditions, they managed to have such big smiles on their faces They both said something to the extent of, “I just try to be the person that my mom would want me to be if she ended up not being with us in the end.”
This message stuck with me, because it showed me that there are more important things than being a successful athlete, a popular kid, a brilliant student, or a winning card player. It showed me that true success comes from what is going on on the inside, and not your outward achievements.
About the same time I began reading my Bible before bed, and I realized that the characteristics that I wanted to develop should be modeled after one person; Jesus. I then set the goal of trying to be even better than the person that my parents, my sister, my friends, my teachers and my dogs want me to be.
I now want to be the person that my God wants me to be. Some of the characteristics God calls us to have can be found in our first reading today from St. Paul’s Letter to Timothy:
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
In an effort to grow to exemplify these virtues myself, I want to challenge myself to do four things:
- To make an effort to take time each day to be closer to God, because when we’re closer to God, we can experience what true authentic love really looks like, and we have a model to live by.
- Secondly, I want to ask God to teach me to see those who I encounter each and every day the same way He does.
- Third, I want to learn to assume the best of each person by refraining from looking at their worst side, but looking at their bright side.
- And finally, I want to focus on having an attitude of gratitude by thanking God for the things I have, rather than focusing on the things I do not.
As I have told you, I came into Fenwick desiring validation and notice from others. Now as I am getting ready to leave Fenwick at the end of this year, I have come to realize that the things that I desired then are not as important as what I desire now: the unconditional and unwavering love of God. This is the greatest gift that I can and have received and I am grateful that I am able to share it with you all. Thank you.
August 18: Josie DiMarco ’26
Josie DiMarco ’26 provided the student reflection before Fenwick’s all-school Mass on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Welcome to the first Mass of the 2025-2026 school year. Today we are celebrating a Mass of the Holy Spirit, which is fitting as we embark on a new journey this school year. The Holy Spirit is associated with many symbols in the Church, such as a dove, water, wind and especially fire. As the sophomores might hear in Chemistry class this year, three components are necessary to start and maintain a fire: oxygen, heat and fuel. This is called the fire triangle, and if one of these ingredients is lacking, the fire will die out. Just like starting a physical fire, to start an inner fire in our heart, we need three things:
The first, the oxygen, is Jesus. Oxygen is all around us. It’s the air we breathe, and it’s necessary for us to live, but we can’t see it. Just like oxygen, Jesus is all around us, and sometimes we have to look a little bit to find Him. It’s not always blatantly obvious, but Jesus will make himself known to you in the simplest of ways, whether it’s someone unexpected saying hi to you in the hallway, a pretty sunrise on the way to school, or a time when a classmate willingly helped you in Friar Mentors. Jesus is revealing himself to us through those moments, and the more we recognize that, the closer we will become with Him.
The next thing we need to start an inner flame is ourselves. We are the fuel. Jesus is knocking at the door, and He can’t come in until we open it. In the Gospel today, we hear about the rich man who asks Jesus what he can do to enter eternal life. Jesus lists out the commandments, and the man says that he has followed all of them. Jesus then tells the man that to truly follow Him, he must give his possessions to the poor; much to the disappointment of the rich man. The rich man was being passive in his faith, just going through the motions and following the 10 Commandments like a checklist. More than likely we may find our faith lives to be very similar.
So how can we avoid this indifference in our faith?
There are so many little, easy ways – like actually paying attention in Theology class, reading the verse of the day on the Bible app, or taking time each day to fill God in on our lives; thanking God every time something good happens in your life; asking Him for strength when things aren’t going so well, and offering an apology and a request for mercy when we mess up.
Through small, daily adjustments in our faith habits, we can be changed by Jesus, just as logs or sticks are physically changed during combustion.
The last side of the fire triangle is the Holy Spirit, the heat. When making a fire, the flame generated by one match can set the whole thing ablaze. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. When we recognize God in our lives and turn to Him, the Holy Spirit will naturally set our hearts on fire. We all know that a fire gives off heat and light. Similarly, we will be provided with overwhelming comfort and guidance if we turn to the Holy Spirit.
When I was younger, I used to go to a summer camp called Camp Tecumseh, which some of you may have heard of or attended yourself. One year, my cabin did a fire-building activity, where we were given the components to start a fire: matches, kindling and sticks. Maybe it was the fact that it had rained the night before or that ten 13-year-old girls with no experience were trying to build a fire, but we were completely unable to get a fire going. The truth is that starting a fire, whether on the damp ground at summer camp or in our hearts, is very difficult! It requires practice, the correct ingredients, and some good guidance…and that guidance is the Holy Spirit. If we follow the Spirit’s guidance and are faithful to the things that help make us into ready fuel, the Holy Spirit’s fire will light the way through even the darkest of times.
I wish you all a wonderful school year, and remember, whether you are trying to get your inner fire going, or working to maintain the flame, the Holy Spirit is within all of you, so do not be afraid to let your light shine.