Reverend Thompson almost hit the ceiling when he got a text from his teenage son's teacher, Mrs. Patterson, one Monday afternoon. His son, Jimmy, had apparently started a pattern of being disruptive in class, frequently sassing the teacher and muttering things under his breath when her back was turned. "This is absolutely unacceptable." He said to Jimmy. "Your teachers deserve your attention and respect. Now, if you talk back to her one more time this week, you can forget about going on that camping trip this weekend." That really got Jimmy's attention. The camping trip his father was referring to was a trip he had been invited to attend with his friend's family. It was something that happened only once a year and he looked forward to the event all year. He just couldn't miss out on the trip, so he decided to behave himself in school.
On Tuesday, Jimmy sat quietly in Mrs. Patterson's class. Whenever he felt tempted to say something cocky or unpleasant, he bit his lip to keep his mouth closed. Reverend Thompson texted Mrs. Patterson in the middle of the week to ask how Jimmy was acting in class. She told him that there had been quite a change. He often looked like he wanted to say something out of line but always held back from doing so.
It got to be Friday - the day before the trip. Jimmy was a bit distracted, thinking about the weekend. By the end of the day he forgot that he was supposed to be watching his mouth and something inappropriate slipped out of it before he could think quick enough to stop that from happening. Jimmy had the saddest look on his face as he left school that day, knowing that his teacher and his father were constantly exchanging note on his behavior. However, when he got home all the Reverend say was, "Are you ready for the trip?" Jimmy was very confused. "I didn't think I'd be able to go," he replied, "After what happened this afternoon."
"Let me ask you something," the Reverend said. "Since we talked about this on Monday - how many times have you talked back to Mrs. Patterson?" Jimmy then declared, "Just once". The Reverend then went on to say, "And how many times since we talked about this did you bite your lip to keep from saying something out of line?" Jimmy had to think for a minute. "Lots of times." he replied.
The reverend paused for a moment and paced around for a bit while gathering his thoughts. "God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He just wants us to do the best that we can each day to be the best people that we can be. He knows that sometimes we are going to fail, but as long as we are making a reasonable effort, he doesn't hold it against us. I think that you made a good effort this week, so I'm willing to make a deal with you. Call Mrs. Patterson and apologize for what you said to her today, and I won't stand in the way of you going on the trip." Jimmy was so happy that he threw his arms around his father and rushed off to call Mrs. Patterson.
It's the middle of April. How have you been doing with your New Year's resolutions? What resolutions? You know, the ones you made at the beginning of the year about what you were going to do every day for the rest of the year. I had planned to exercise every day for 30 mins. I kept that resolution for three days. On the fourth day, I was tired and busy. I missed exercising that day. Having failed the New Year's resolution, it seemed that there was no point continuing with the goal.
What about your resolutions for lent? How well did you do with those? I planned to do several things, one of which was to adhere to a low sugar diet. I ended up binging on the candy I bought for my family's Easter baskets.
The story of Holy Week is filled with broken resolutions. The same people who excitedly greeted Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday were yelling, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" on Good Friday. The apostles fell asleep in the garden of Gethsemane, abandoning Jesus when he needed them the most. Peter firmly resolved on Holy Thursday that he would stand by Jesus even if it meant dying with him. No more than 12 hours later, he denied three times that he even knew him.
The good news about resolutions is that they can easily be renewed. Persistence with change will have an impact whether it begins on the first day of the year, the first day of lent or any other day. If Peter had given up on following Jesus after he denied him he could never have become the rock on which Jesus built his church. Perhaps he was able to reach people better because he understood their weakness. To believe that there's no point in continuing with a goal because you missed a day is a cognitive distortion called "All or nothing" thinking. Alcoholics Anonymous hits the nail on the head again with their expression, "Progress not perfection".
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that though in our weakness we fail, we may be revived through the passion of your only begotten Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever, Amen. From "The Word Among Us" - Lent 2025 - Daily mass readings - April 14.
"Renew us, Oh Lord, in your mercy, May your spirit bring mercy and love..."
Lyrics from "Renew Us, Oh Lord" by Jason Lilies.
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