Readings for
October 9-15
10/9
28th Sunday in
Ordinary Time
2 Kings 5:14—17
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Luke 17:11-19
10/10
Galatians 4:22-24,
26-27, 31—5:1
Luke 11:29-32
10/11
Galatians 5:1-6
Luke 11:42-46
10/12
Galatians 5:18-25
Matthew 9:9-13
10/13
Ephesians 1:1-10
Luke 11:47-54
10/14
Ephesians 1:11-14
Luke 12:1-7
10/15
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 12:8-12
Reflecting on the Mission
in the Gospel. He did not heal the lepers in
order to be thanked. Likewise, we do not
“The Latin word gratus, meaning ‘pleasing’ teach because of the gratitude we receive.
or ‘thankful,’ gives us the root grat. Words If we did, I think we would have all quit
from the Latin gratus have something to do year one. As Terry Michler shared on
with being pleasing or being thankful.”
these pages last year, it is only after many
years that an educator ever hears the gratThere is much to be grateful for around
itude of a student. Though it is “pleasing”
here these days. A quick review of the Eto hear, again, it is not why we do this. So
News tells much of the student story
why do we do this?
(bright flight scholars, Eagle Scout, Damn
Yankees, #RiseTogether), the opportunity This week, we remember the “great fire”
to foster good relationships with parents of October 5, 1916. The fire that destroyed
(conferences, surveys, mother/son comthe second CBC campus, and completely
munion brunch, auction, “Thirsty Thurschanged the course of the future of our
days”) and the chance to share a glimpse
institution. For a great read on this histoof who we are with the larger St. Louis
ry, I recommend this article by Dr. Dohle.
community (Open House), but of course,
If I could, I would like to use the same
there is so much more than can fit on the quote to conclude this reflection as Dr.
brief bulletin. Not least among that which Dohle did his article.
to be grateful beyond the bulletin is the
recognition from the regional office of Joe “In a letter celebrating the [Clayton] camHenken as a Distinguished Lasallian Edu- pus opening, Father John J. Thomson of
cator for the 2015-2016 school year.
Mary Magdalen parish, writes: ‘It made me
happy to read of the threatened resurrecThe Gospel for this Sunday tells of the 10 tion of C.B.C. from the cold ashes of a few
lepers who were cleansed by Jesus. Nine
years ago. No matter how many teaching
of these men presumably returned to their organizations are in the field at present, or
lives without a second thought for the in- may come in the future, there will always
credible gift they had been given. Only one be room, and room right at top, for the
of the ten, and a foreigner at that, returned Christian Brothers...If ever we needed
to offer Jesus his gratitude. How easy it is strong men with strong minds and great
to act like the other nine—to take good
hearts to fashion the character of the
gifts in this life for granted.
young, we need them today, and in this the
Brothers were preeminently successful.’”
St. John Baptist de La Salle started these
schools as gratuitous schools—schools
So why do we do this? To carry the tradithat operated free of charge, and without tion established so long ago by the Chrisexpectation of compensation of any kind
tian Brothers to shape these boys into
from the students. Not at all unlike Jesus
“Men for Tomorrow, Brothers for Life”
Gratus
Take five to consider
To whom do you owe your gratitude?
What about your work is ‘pleasing’ to you, or causes you to be ‘thankful’?