This morning, fully expecting to learn
that a two-hour delay had been declared to the start of the school day, I got
up and checked the web site of Montgomery County Public Schools, whose
weather-based decisions our own schools follow.
Much to my shock, I saw that school had been cancelled for the entire
day.
Of course I was not entirely
displeased, as a school closing often heralds a quieter day in the offices here
at Saint Bernadette Central. Sometimes,
it indicates that even the staff will be unable to report for work, which means
our house stays a home instead making
its daily transformation into a hybrid between office space and a commuter
railway platform.
This day, however, the bad weather must
have been up-county, as all the staff reported on time, and the phones and
doorbell rang at least as much as they do any other Wednesday. Morning Mass attendance was lower, of course,
but hearty souls still arrived for their daily Bread of Angels. At the 8:15, I even had two valiant lads
report to serve at the altar!
Standing ready and waiting for the Mass
to begin, the boys were circumspect.
They were pleased to have the day off school – who wouldn’t be? But they were aware of a creeping consequence
to their unearned liberty: soon each day won now for sleeping in and goofing
off because of weather real and perceived will have to be repaid months hence with
a day forfeited to desks and tasks, while the green fields of summer
beckon.
One of the boys half-heartedly assured
me that he would rather have the day free now, and face the consequences later;
but the other was less sure. I was only
just beginning to realize this future cost to my own present pleasure, and
admit that I am unhappy at the prospect of extra school days in the spring.
Our own Father Nick issued an internet
plea this week: To whomever among you has
been praying for snow: Please stop! But of course none of us can influence
the weather, or even the decisions of the Montgomery County School
Deciders.
Still, it forces the question to be
asked, how much are any of us willing to grab some good thing we crave now at
the cost of some future sacrifice or suffering?
Heck, it’s a constant challenge simply at the table or refrigerator; how
much more so as those decisions grow in import and consequence?
Jesus puts before us this weekend the
joyful reminder that everything we have been given is ours so that we may do
with it what is good. Without referring
directly to the eventual cost of selfishness, he encourages us to avoid
satisfying our present pleasure but rather seek the good beyond our own. In that light, we have to ask ourselves about
far more than just snow days.
Speaking of cancellations, I regret to tell
you that I have had to cancel the special Mass I had announced for this
Tuesday, 11 February, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Logistics difficulties forced me to call it
off; please do not, however, neglect to do something festive and faithful to
celebrate the 156th anniversary of the first time Our Lady appeared
in the grotto outside Lourdes to our gentle young Patroness, Saint Bernadette
Soubirous. May they both bless you with
their loving intercession!
Monsignor Smith
