November 25, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving Falcons!
I hope this letter finds you and your family in a place of peace and good health. It was three months ago today that I shared my first reflection on the life of St. Christopher. As I prayed this week for our community and the school year, I again looked to St. Christopher for inspiration using the above picture.
This time, my eyes focused on St. Christopher's embrace of his wooden walking stick, and it reminded me of the Cross. Like the staff for St. Christopher, the wood of the Cross accompanies us throughout life, supporting us and strengthening us. This Thanksgiving, let us remember to give thanks to Our Lord for the gift of His Cross and the power that comes from it.
After St. Christopher carried Jesus across the river, Christopher emerged from the water and planted his staff in the ground. The next day, his staff produced beautiful flowers and fruit. What a beautiful image of our faith! Just as St. Christopher emerged from the river a new man, we too emerge from the waters of baptism as new children of God. Lord, we thank you for the invitation to be your children and we ask for your help in bearing great fruit for your Kingdom.
St. Christopher's encounter with Jesus in the water also reminded me of the commingling of the water and wine at Mass when the priest says, "by the mystery of this water in wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity." Although Jesus is always with us, it is at Mass where we encounter Him in a special, physical way. Lord, we thank you for your presence in our lives; please help us to humbly remain in your presence and to become more like you.
As my reflection on this image concluded, my view panned out to an aerial view where I could barely see St. Christopher in the middle of the river. It was in the middle of the river where Christopher felt the weight of the world on his shoulders and he wondered if he would make it to the other side. Jesus, during this Thanksgiving week, please help us to focus, not on the weight of the world, but on the peace and freedom that comes from your Cross.
Jesus, please bless our St. Christopher community and help us to never lose sight of you.
St. Christopher, we thank you for your model of holiness. Please intercede for us and help us to become closer to Jesus, one river crossing at a time.
Parents, thank you for allowing St. Christopher School to partner with you in your child's academic and spiritual formation. May our partnership continue to bear great fruit!
Blessings & Thanksgiving!
Mr. O'
The painting of St. Christopher at the top of this page was done by Titian in 1524 and is now housed in Doge's Palace in St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy (www.titian.net/saint-christopher).
