Let your mercy be on us, O Lord,

as we place our trust in you.

Paraphrase of Ps. 33:22

What a strange several weeks it's been since my last post. I've thought often of what I should write when I have the opportunity... and then something comes up... another event... and my thoughts are completely different.

Yesterday in my classes the journal question I assigned to my students was about an area in their lives in which they really need to trust in God. During our brief discussion of the journal topic I heard about divorces, parent illnesses, sibling deaths, serious financial difficulties, tough moral choices... It's unbelievable what some young people are carrying...

In recent weeks it seems I know personally many communities and families confronted with a sudden death... A young Marianist brother killed in a car accident... the younger brother of a Marianist priest in my peer group killed in a car accident... a 31-year old Marianist educator died from lung cancer (whose funeral I will attend today) ... 2 UD students killed in a car accident... 2 Marianist brothers in the same community died within days of each other (one rather unexpected)...

The readings these days call us to reflect on the last days. Yesterday's reading from the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Wisdom was particularly poignant... But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace....

In the midst of sadness and confusion on the part of those who mourn these losses, there have been constant reminders of God's faithfulness and love. From the readings to the celebration of perpetual vows... supportive friends and moments of laughter... beautiful sunsets and fall colors.

Let us, then, continue to trust in the love of God... For we know and believe in God's love for us. (1 John 4:16)

Blessings of peace to all who read this,

Sr. N