Baccalaureate Mass Homily 2011

Sacred Heart High School, Vineland, NJ
June 6, 2011

(Readings: Sirach 50: 22-24; Philippians 4: 6-9; Luke 8: 4-15)

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A student took his report card home and showed it to his mother.
The mother was very disappointed by all of the very low grades.
“Well, look on the bright side mom” the child said, “you know for sure I don’t cheat.”
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“A sower went out to sow his seed.”
A teacher began to teach her lesson.
A coach started instructing and drilling his team.
Some parents sat down to explain something to their child.
A priest began to preach his homily.

How will the message that they want to impart be received?

We’ve probably all heard the expression: “My words fell on deaf ears.”

We never quite know how what we say or teach will be perceived, or comprehended, or acted upon. There is a certain uncertainty and the possibility of disappointment that even Jesus experienced in the instructional process.

As you, the graduating class of 2011, finish your time here at Sacred Heart High School, I hope that you have learned many valuable lessons, or at least have received the necessary tools to allow you to continue the process of learning. Grades and degrees are, without a doubt, important within the educational system as we know it. You don’t reach this day without the required amount of tests, papers, reports, projects and satisfactory grades.

Yet, I encourage you to ponder often the words of Mark Twain: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

Life’s lessons go far beyond the classroom or school building—no matter how prestigious the institution.

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There are two things in particular that I want you to remember from my words today:

First, there is no way to give a grade, to accurately evaluate, or to award an appropriate degree for the decisions and choices that you will make along the road of life.

To use the words of St. Paul in today’s second reading: “Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen” in the Christ–centered Catholic education that you have experienced here at Sacred Heart.

Will the teachings of the Scriptures guide your lives?

Will you succumb to the values of the society in which we live and ignore Church teachings as so many do?

Will your Catholic faith matter to you, especially when you are called to witness publicly to it?

Will the Eucharist that we celebrate here today be the last for many years or will it become something integral to your spiritual life, providing sustenance during your college years and beyond?

Simply stated, will your actions reflect Jesus Christ by what you think, say and do in the years ahead?

No teacher, no school—no one except God Himself can evaluate you accurately in these areas.

Second, no parent, friend or even future spouse—no matter how intimate the relationship—can truly know you in the manner in which you will be known by God.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . .” (John 3:16)

God loves us. The Sacred Heart of Jesus expresses this love to us. God wants us to know Him intimately as He already knows us.

Through God’s grace, we can experience the joy of this intimacy. To live in His grace, we have to avoid sin. And we need to pray as we are reminded in today’s second reading:

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

Prayer takes perseverance.

Sometimes it may seem that God is distant or that He is not listening. But I assure you that He is always there.

He is always listening to us. Always.

Today’s technology has allowed us to communicate and to connect with family and friends far and wide. “Social networking” allows others rapidly to see both our accomplishments and our exploits. However, no matter how great the technological capabilities, God can only be reached by that quiet time alone in prayer in which He probes our thoughts, influences our actions and strengthens our resolve.

Pray often. Pray well. Pray from the heart. Pray when you feel like it, but more so when you do not.

Pray, pray, pray.

In conclusion, I remind you of the anticipated benefits of allowing today’s message—the message of the Gospel—to enter your minds and to penetrate your hearts:

. . . Some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold. After saying this, (Jesus) called out, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

. . . As for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. (Luke 8: 8, 15)

May God’s Word penetrate your minds and hearts.

Bear good fruit. Go out and make me proud.

God bless you today and always.