Rejoicing After Final Exams

June marks the end of another school year and the beginning of summer fun and celebration for our children…well only if they don’t have to return to summer school. Most students have learned to fear the end-of-year exams that reveal whether or not they have been working carefully during the year. If they pass the exams, that means summer is for fun and celebrating at the beach. Lucky for children, there are review days before exams to help them prepare. In fact throughout the entire year, schools offer review periods to help students get back on track if they have fallen behind. These reviews are very important because they let students know where they need to improve BEFORE the exam. If they didn’t do their work, then summer is about summer school and making up for lost time – definitely NOT a celebration.

Our spiritual life is no different. We are children of God and throughout life we are given a chance to review where we may have fallen behind so we can get back on track before its too late….before our final exam. Just like school, if we don’t get back on track and “fail” the final exam, heaven won’t be about joy and celebrations, but suffering.

 This is why I am offering the “Spiritual Self-Assessment”. Each year in June, the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to the Church and “guided the Apostles into all truth.” (John 16.13) It is the Church that has guided us for over 2,000 years to live a life according to Christ’s commandments. Just like a school that guides young people into knowledge, it is the Church that guides her children to knowledge of God.

 Take a few moments and complete the “SpiritualSelf-Assessment” included in this month’s newsletter and consider it a chance to review before final exams. None of us will score perfect a perfect “1” rating, but at least we will know where more work is needed to prepare to meet the Lord.

 Go ahead…….complete it now and come back to finish reading this…..I’ll be waiting.

 I pray this exercise was helpful in preparing each of you to meet the Lord. After you have completed the assessment and come to terms with where you need a bit of extra work to get back on track, make a commitment to the Lord to improve and start improving today!

 If you find your answers were mostly in the 4-5 rating, don’t feel lost. There is always hope because the Lord gives us each a fresh start when we need it. If you find your answers were mostly 2-3, please don’t feel too confident because there is always room for improvement. Identify a few items on the assessment that need work and call your priest. Together, using the tools of the Church, you can create an “Individual Education Plan – IEP” to get you back on track.

 I close with encouragement from Saint Paul. “Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4.16) Take advantage of this chance to review so in heaven together we can all celebrate and rejoice!

 Glory to God for all things!