I know I have mentioned this to a few already, but there is a fairly significant milestone coming up in my pastorate. That is, as of July 1, I will be able to hand over my title of “Youngest pastor in the Archdiocese.” One of my classmates will be taking it from me, and along with no longer having to carry that mantle, I now have the opportunity to pompously give advice to my “inexperienced” friends.

In reflecting on what I might tell a classmate who is making the jump from associate to pastor, I’ve been reflecting about what’s different in this role as opposed to getting one’s feet wet as a new vicar. While there are many adjustments that I still have to make personally, and there is no shortage of ways in which we can grow in living out the Faith, the flagship difference seems to be the ability to find peace and quiet time. When you’re “in charge” of just about anything, the concerns and cares of one’s life can follow you around throughout the day and into the night, and we end up believing that everything depends on us.

This weekend’s Gospel gives us a beautiful insight into a related, and difficult, spiritual lesson to learn: that God is ultimately in charge of everything, and we have to be prepared to submit to His providence. Our Lord tells us that a man can “sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.” We live in an age that emphasizes activity, constant work, and perpetual motion.

We’re taught that we have to go out and seize the day and do everything ourselves. None of this is necessarily bad in itself, but we have to be prepared to do our best work, and then leave it in God’s hands and trust that He will do what is necessary for our true happiness and salvation. When Pope St. John XXIII would turn in for the night, the last prayer he would say before going to sleep was “I’ve done my best I could in your service this day, Oh Lord. I’m going to bed. It’s your church. Take care of it!” If the Pope can learn to entrust his cares and worries to the Lord, then the rest of our problems can probably wait as well.

As we enjoy the rest, extra sunlight, and hopefully the additional free time that summer offers, perhaps we would all do well to focus on learning to rest in the Lord. Alongside vacation and family time, make extra time to pray as a family. Take a break from the constant activities, practices, and planned events, and settle in for a family rosary or head to Adoration and spend fifteen minutes in silence with God. It is in these moments that we learn to entrust all of our hard work and our entire lives to God and trust that He will take care of our needs.

Prayer Always,
Fr. McCullough