O blessed rock-bottom!  How I long to stand on you!  Be my comfort, my surety, my hope!  Whenever my life gets lost in the drama, whenever I become caught up in myself, whenever the way forward is confusing or uncertain, show me the way to that low place where my feet touch the earth.  Deliver me from the desire for ticker-tape parades and places of honor!  Teach me to choose simplicity and authenticity!  All praise and glory to you, rock-bottom, ground of my being, because you give character and meaning to my life.  Ave Crux, Spes Uncia.

What does it mean to “have a voice”?  In a modern context, it usually refers to the democratic ideal of each person getting to cast an individual vote with respect to some issue or election.  In a similar way, it can also mean having influence or power when it comes to decision-making at the level of institution, committee, or family.  More importantly and fundamentally, however, “having a voice” is the capacity for relationships: literal air from within me, formed with the very lips of my mouth, accompanied by a facial expression and an intention, sent out in mission to other people, literally touching their skin and inviting processing in mind and heart.  Let’s spend time in prayer, listening attentively to the Word who calls us by name with great dignity and respect (Jn 20:16).  Let’s be like the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11) and speak in thoughtful and caring ways that call others into communion.  Let’s constantly confess that “Jesus is Lord” (Rom 10:9) in whatever words we are using and, in so doing, join our voices with angelic choirs in perpetual praise (Rev 5:13).

Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

Whenever my very eccentric grandmother would pull out a weed that included the entire root, she would exclaim, “It’s the kind that makes my mouth water!”  Getting to the root of things, like grandma in her flower bed, is a core human need that satisfies us deeply, yet such a task is not for the faint of heart.  We must be focused, intentional, committed, patient and resilient.  We must be prepared to discover that the deeper reality of a thing may not match our superficial perception of that thing.  And we must be willing to get dirty in the process.  How easy it is to live at the surface, constantly skimming the stem and leaves off the top but leaving the root untouched.  What a tragic mistake!  The next time we feel dissatisfied and restless in life, let’s make the radical decision to go for the root.  We will discover a beautiful complementarity and balance between our inner and outer selves that will make our mouths water too. 

Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us! Ave Crux, Spes Unica!

Pieta by Krishen Khanna

“His feet touched the ground when he walked.”  This would be my choice for an epitaph.  Indeed, while it’s easy to spend life putting in mile after mile on the mental hamster wheel, how risky it is to simply make contact with some deeper reality.  This journey takes us from the complacent confines of our upper room (Jn 20:19) to the vast expanses of authentic human experience (Ps 119:45).  The more willing we become to descend this inner ladder, rung by rung, the more we will get in touch with our needs: for nourishment, for real relationships with others, for that next breath, for life.  Let’s, therefore, literally take off our shoes and socks and feel what it is like to be grounded.  Let’s frolic barefoot in the grass, in the sand, in the dirt, and in the street.  Let’s befriend the earth in a way that allows us, ourselves, to become good soil that bears much fruit (Mt 13:8). Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

The “audible” has become all the rage in college football.  Eleven players run up to the line of scrimmage, they position themselves in a tight formation, they get into their stances, but instead of snapping the ball and running the play, they all look over to the sideline to see if the coach wants to make an adjustment.  If he does not, they simply go with the original plan, but if he does, a large cardboard sign goes up into the air, the players read it, they all shift, and then they run the play.  Let’s get into the habit of pausing and looking to Jesus every time we make plans in life.  He, who brings all things to their good end (Rom 8:28), will not destroy our playbook (Mt 5:17), but will instead suggest changes that will lead us across the existential goal line into eternal life. 

Ave Crux, Spes Unica.

Enjoy this reflection on applying the Holy Cross educational philosophy to the start of the new school year….Ave Crux, Spes Unica!