B&B Eighth Grade Graduation, May 20, 2002:

Father Owen's Homilies

Homily for the B&B Eighth Grade Graduation at St. Mary’s, May 20, 2002

If we were to take the responsorial Psalm seriously we would soon accept the fact that we have more than just two eyes. The Psalm says, “ The command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye.” We can say, then, that we have three eyes. There are two in our head and one in our heart. That eye of the heart holds the lens of our attitudes, beliefs, and values.

Consider how we judge people by their appearances. We see only the outdated fashions, look at the uncombed hair, the muddy feet, the dirty hands, color of skin with the lens in our eyes. But with the lens in the eye of our heart we see a good and loving person for whom Jesus died on the cross. With one lens we can look down on a person and make fun of them. With the eye of the heart we can look up to and respect a person. How we view persons, places, events and things makes all the differences.

You Eighth Graders have had a parallel education. Formally in the classroom you have gained more than adequate book learning but at the same time you have learned to live with other human beings. In addition, in your CCD classes you have learned to cultivate your other eyes, those of your heart. You have been given the opportunity to look with the eyes of Jesus on the world and its wisdom and the people in the world. Your education is not just one sided. You are blessed with the formal education in school and church. You are blessed with the informal learning that comes from being in good families. In high school continue to polish those lenses of the eyes that show and forget not the inner eye of the heart.