September 5, 2013
The following is an edited version of remarks I made to the student body at the Opening Mass of the 2013-2014 school year. At the end of Mass all students, faculty and staff received a blue wristband with the word TRUST on it in gold.
A way of thinking about TRUST occurred to me when I was reading about what Pope Francishad to say when he was at World Youth Day in Rio just a few weeks ago. The crowd for the Papal Mass on the Copacabana Beach was estimated to exceed 3 million. Hard to imagine. During Pope Francis' time in Brazil, many were alarmed about what they saw as lax security –the Papal motorcade took a wrong turn, The Holy Father's car was swamped by the crowdwanting to see him. People were freaking out about the danger. Over the past few months Pope Francis has taught us to expect the unexpected. Rather than share in the general alarm, hechallenged us to think about TRUST in a new way. Here's what he said:
With less security, I was able to be with the people, to embrace and greet them, without armored cars. It's the security of trusting people. It's true that there is always the danger that there is a madman ... alas, yes, that there is a madman who does something; but there is also the Lord! But, to make an armored space between the Bishop and the people is madness, and I prefer this madness: [to be] outside and run the risk of the other madness. I prefer this madness: outside. Closeness does good to all.
The Pope acknowledges the inherent risk in most everything we do – the potential for "madness" is everywhere. Risk is everywhere. Stuff happens. Just look around here. School is barely a week old and we see crutches and slings, boots and casts. The risk of injury is always presentand we assume that risk because we value the joy of the sporting contest. We continue. If we didn't approach athletics with some degree of trust we would be crazy to ever set foot in the arena. If there is risk all around us, Pope Francis tells us he prefers looking outward to sitting on the sidelines of life. He chooses to TRUST. For him, life is about putting yourself out there and being engaged. He says: "Closeness does good to all."
To hold back, to seek what the Pope calls an "an armored space" is the greater "madness." Just listening to the horrors that seem to come with the nightly news is sometimes enough to make you want to climb into bed and pull the covers tight. So much bad stuff could happen. Pope Francis is telling us that the security that makes sense is not "armored space" but in relationship built on TRUST. Don't make your life about building barriers to everyone and everything. Don't live life like you're frightened of what might go wrong. Yes, we need to be smart and exercise judgment; the Pope is not asking any of us to be reckless. But he is clear: the way to be secure is in right relationships. We know this already. We all talk about how much we treasure those who are there for us, who have our back. Engage with the world, reach out to others, care about them, love them. The TRUST you show will come back to you. And in choosing to live this way, we build up God's Kingdom on earth.
How could you do that in school? Well, here's a way you could start. One of the things I likeabout our school is that so many people smile, they make eye contact, they'll say "Hey!" to you– all that stuff matters. Does that sound like you? These are things that cost you nothing. Theysay I am open, not closed. They are signs of TRUST, of looking outward. Try the security of trusting people. When we embrace the adventure of becoming deeply, and fully, our best self, we find what God is really calling us to. It seems like the riskiest of all journeys, but it's ultimately the journey that is going to make you happy.
We will all be getting a wristband this morning. I encourage you to wear it all year. And those few times a day when that word catches your attention, maybe you can ask yourself: Was I TRUSTWORTHY today? Did I TRUST others?
Lastly, Pope Francis ended events in Rio with a simple seven-word message declaring his TRUST and confidence in the youth of the world: Go, do not be afraid, and serve.
Take that to heart this year. Go, do not be afraid, and serve.