September: Coming Home to Ourselves

Every September brings us back - back from holidays, back from visits, back from fun times and back to reality. For some it brings newness and excitement - a new school year, a new job, a new member in the family - but for many the fall brings a return to the everydayness of it all. Along with the line in the title song of the movie Alfie, we ask: "What's it all about?"

Our return invites us to live the Christian life. It's all about asking for the Spirit, then allowing that Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, to take over and do things in our lives. It's all about becoming who we really are. We tend to read about the saints, the special people, and say to ourselves, “I couldn't possibly do that!” And it's highly unlikely that the Spirit is leading us to do “that.” We are unique, living at this particular time and in a particular set of circumstances. And it is right here that we are to become holy.

"There are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit … To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good... All are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually, just as the Spirit chooses." - 1 Cor. 12:4,7,11

We become holy by following the guidance of the Spirit received at baptism. We are to become disciples right where we are, to become the persons God made us to be.

Mary Buckley CSJ