Yes, the period of exams is upon all of us at the NAC.

 

Part of the European school system, our final exams consist of a 10-minute oral final exam during which we are expected to be able to respond adequately to a question on anything from the whole semester's lectures. And, over here, it is still technically the fall semester - so that means that material going the whole way back to October. It goes without saying that there is a lot of material to be learned, hence the long days of studying.

 

Yet all of our study is in preparation for, God willing, future ministry. I'm sure that everyone is just dying to hear a homily about the multiple meanings of the Greek verb plerw [to fulfill] (and which one Matthew intends) in the Sermon on the Mount, right? More seriously, our studies are very important and that is why we are dedicating so much time to them.

 

I'd like to share something that one of the formation advisors at the college told us in preparation for exams, because I think it was very beautiful. We have been called to spend this time studying here in Rome, and it is a great blessing. But I think that most people at some time in their lives will be students or work at a desk, and so I leave you with this image to meditate with. What our advisor spoke about was the image of sacrificing ourselves at altar of our desks. He said:

 

"The Gospel today tells us that “to his own disciples he [the Lord] explained everything in private.” (Mk 4:34)  And so it is for us as “his own disciples” as well – the Lord explains everything to us in the solitude of our own time spent in consecrated study.  There is no short cut, no easy way; to become effective ministers of his Word, we must give Him that time to explain his Word to us in our studies.  Studying not just for the exams – although they are important – but to prayerfully consecrate our efforts so they become an extended period of adoration of the Risen Word at the altar of our desks; entering more deeply into the mysteries we study so those Mysteries can enter more perfectly into us."

 

How profound!

 

I think the same is true for much of what we do. We all should be doing it for Christ and for his kingdom, and that will involve sacrifice. But through our sacrifice we are transformed and conformed to Christ.  At the end of the day, all that sacrifice which leads to that glorious crown will be worth it!

 

God's Blessings