We all probably know either a high school or college student graduating this spring which got me thinking. I don’t believe I’ll ever need to prepare to give a commencement address, but I briefly wondered what I would share at such an important time in college graduates’ lives. I don’t recall the speech at my graduation, and even though I’m sure it was encouraging and hopeful, I guess it wasn’t exactly memorable. How would you even start? How in 20 minutes or so do you explain decades of life lessons, of seeking a place in the world, of celebrating successes, and overcoming failures?
I’d hope to find a memorable way to include God and prayer and grace and faith among other things. The Gospel reading for this Holy Trinity Sunday is helpful (and especially appropriate and timely). “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations….” (Mt 28:19a) It’s a message for our graduates; it’s a message for us. Even more, it’s our mission. This year’s graduates are certainly being encouraged to ‘go.’ They are being sent to take the first steps into new, unknown journeys. Some of them may be excited, some may be nervous. Some may have plans, some may still be wondering what comes next. And that sounds familiar. Don’t we all continue to come across moments of new first steps and unknown journeys? Yet while we meet those moments, our mission is the same, and we have the Holy Trinity to help us.
Graduation is a beginning, but as life has shown us, we do not stop growing, learning, or experiencing. We also do not stop making disciples or “proclaiming the gospel to every creature.” (Mk16:15) Whether we have just graduated, or if it has been a while, our mission is to spread the Gospel by our lives. The verse continues: “…baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19b-20) Let’s prayerfully seek the special gifts of the three persons in one: the Father’s wisdom and grace, the Son’s companionship and love for others, and the Spirit’s strength and guidance. I guess I would encourage graduates to start there.
Journeying to Grace 