School Mass Helps Students Reflect on Lent

By: Taryn Bratz
Photo Credit: Maddi McNevitts

This past Thursday, Holy Trinity was spiritually blessed to have Father Jason Kuntz from St. Michael’s parish to celebrate Mass and give the Holy Trinity community a devotional homily about taking the time to care about others. This message is a simple one. However, in our busy lives we tend to get caught up in everyday life, which unfortunately drives us to be selfish and live in a “dog eat dog world”. Lent is the perfect time to reflect back on past wrongdoings and look forward to how we can overcome these certain challenges in our lives. A simple way we show that we care about other people is just by saying thank you. I know- easy! In this day and age, we get so overwhelmed with things; we completely forget the things that God has given us. Even if you're not religious- maybe you're agnostic or practising another religion- a simple thank you to God or the universe, or YHWH or Brahma, or Buddha, the Creator, or even Allah. It can make the utmost difference in your life.

For example, we take for granted the fact that we have water. Simple H20. There are people in the world that do not have clean sanitized drinking water. They walk miles for just a pitcher of bacteria infested water. We don't even half to walk very far. At most all we have to walk is ten steps and we are at a sink. So let’s just say "thanks" to whomever you believe in for clean water. School is another great example. It’s now March Break, and how many of us are ecstatic to have a whole week off? Just take a moment to think that there are kids who don't even get a chance in their life to go to school. And yet we complain. We have heating in the winter, air conditioning in the spring, plumbing, a couple tests, and a maximum of four exams at the end of the semester, and then we have two months of summer vacation and a whole bunch of other holidays off! There are kids that want to go to school. They want an education because they know that if they don't they can't be successful. In this society that we live in today, we are so privileged for everything and most of the time we don’t acknowledge it.

Another way that we can help and show that we care for others is making a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, whether it’s some spare change or some clothes that you know you will never ever wear again. Donations were also collected at the school’s Lenten Mass for Mom2Mom Africa. Classes were asked to raise money and purchase a children’s backpack that would then be shipped to Africa for underprivileged children to use. Lent is a time for reflection, but it is also a time  to take action, and to be grateful for those and the things around you. You don’t have to be religious to be grateful, just acknowledge your surroundings. Just say thank you.

Once again, let’s just say thank you to our government for giving us an education that will be beneficial in our lives, no matter where they may take us. Lastly, let’s be thankful for everything that we have ever taken for granted. A clean bed, food on the table, a pantry full of snacks, electricity, hot water, television, and the most important of all- our parents for giving us this life that we live. To reiterate Father Jason’s message, we should take the miniscule amount of time that it takes to show that we care about others and not just ourselves. Maybe hold a door open for someone, say hi to someone in the halls, or just be there for someone if they're in need of your help. By doing this simple act you could impact not just the person whom you're thanking’s life, but someone else’s around you as well.