COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 7^th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Commencement Addresses.”

I like this time of every year - because the New York Times and various newspapers - yes newspapers - they are still around - they feature best excerpts from commencement addresses from around the country. C-Span - if I can catch them - also offers various commencement addresses from around the country as well.  I try to catch them as well. And you don’t have to be out in the sun - on a hard chair to listen to them. And I listen with ballpoint pen and paper in hand.

TODAY’S READINGS

Today’s readings triggered this topic. A commencement speaker could use both of today’s readings for advice giving to graduates.

Today’s first reading from the wisdom book called, “Sirach” begins with this statement:

My son,

when you come to serve the LORD,
stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials.

I would assume that most graduates from college expect that after college they will get a job - and get going. They might not use the word “to serve” - unless they are graduates of our service academies - but many students hope to get into the service industry - which is a major base or jobs in our nation.

Then Sirach goes on to tell his audience to expect tough times - trials - and he then gives various one liners - clips of thought - about attitude: “Be sincere of heart and steadfast…. Wait on God, with patience …. Accept what befalls you….  When sorrowful be steadfast….” and on and on and on.

Today’s gospel from Mark has Jesus also telling his disciples that there are tough times ahead - that he Jesus is actually headed for Jerusalem where he will be killed.

Imagine a commencement address speaker telling his audience that. Imagine a commencement address speaker saying that many people go forward in life with the goal in mind to become the greatest - but Jesus tells his followers - it’s service - it’s being the least important person in the room - it’s being as simple as a child. It’s gradual - meaning step by step - but that’s the goal.

THIS WEEK

This week here in Annapolis there are two graduations that I know of: St. Mary’s High School on Thursday and the Naval Academy on Friday. I’m going to go to both of them with my grandnephew Brian graduating from the Naval Academy. The commencement address speaker at St. Mary’s H.S. graduation is going to be Camille Brown - Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore;  President Barack Obama will be speaking at the Navy Stadium.  I’ll be listening with ballpoint pen and paper in hand.

Last week Professor James Schmaus from Columbia University in New York City spoke at  the graduation at St. John’s College here in Annapolis. I didn’t hear or read it. The title was, “Commencement Speeches and Community Acts.”  Perhaps he spoke about the impact on lives between words and actions. Perhaps he spoke of the rejections and protests in the past few years about commencement speakers - based on their pronouncements - their actions - whether they are liberal or conservative - or what have you.

I gave 3 commencement addresses in my life - one for a grammar school, one for a high school, and one for a small college.

Commencement address speakers often use the message in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address - people will not remember what was said here - but all will remember what happened here.

Well Lincoln’s address was remembered.

Commencement speakers - like preachers -  know their speeches or sermons will not be remembered. However, I assume they also know that they serve the purpose of being part of the pomp and circumstance. I assume they know they are like the table holding up the food. I hope they know that the key thing is not get in the way, but remind the graduates to thank their parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, janitors, maintenance people - and all those people sitting there who are grateful that they  have made it. I assume that all know that his is not a eulogy - but a commencement - not an ending but a beginning.  Hopefully it sounds like that - that the talk is not deadening - but a beginning - that these kids are ready to get out there and get a job and get moving.

I assume that’s what Sirach and Jesus were getting at in their comments - which we heard in today’s readings. Amen.