From Steve Hammond, Principal

Chapel Reflection

October 11, 2006

Following the Call to Quality

It wasn’t everyday that Jesus invited someone to join him as a disciple. But in this week’s reading from the Gospel of Luke, He did just that. Jesus offered discipleship to a young man who asked Him, “What does it take to gain eternal life?”

In asking his question, don’t you think the young man wish to be recognized by the great Rabbi—the Rabbi who was spreading excitement and wonder throughout the countryside?

The young man knew Jesus must surely respond in the manner of a well trained Rabbi. He surely expected Jesus to respond with something like, “Well, you must follow the Law.” The young man knew He would refer to the Mosaic Law— or the law of the Ten Commandments. Following the Ten Commandments is what righteous Hebrews did in Jesus’ day and they still do today. When Jesus did, in fact, refer to the Mosaic Law, the young man told Jesus that he was already following the Law. Surely everyone in His presence – including the young man– thought Jesus would say, “Good for you, young man! You are headed for Salvation!” and that would be it.
 
The young fellow was right. This is exactly how Jesus responded—initially.

Jesus then did the unexpected. Jesus could see by the fellow’s clothes that he was wealthy; and He likely took notice of the manner in which the man spoke. The young man was probably educated as well. And even more, Jesus saw something in the fellow that He thought might be exceptional. Jesus liked the young man. So, Jesus gave him a most unusual invitation.

In the same words that He used with Peter, Jesus invited the young man to become a disciple. “Come and follow me,” Jesus said.

But there was a contingency. Jesus wanted the young man to go beyond just following the Law. He wanted the young man to give everything to the task at hand. With his invitation, Jesus asked the young man to sell all he owned, give the proceeds to the poor, and then become His disciple!

Jesus was asking the young man to be more than just competent, he was asking him to do more than just follow the Mosaic Law. Jesus was asking the young man to strive for a rare level of performance—he was asking him to strive for Quality. Sell it all, put it all on the table and walk away from it. This was Jesus’ invitation—and a tough one at that!

There is a distinct difference between competence and quality. This is true in all that you do—your school work, your athletics, or your work in music and the arts. Most of the time, I suspect that you achieve a level of performance that is competent. But occasionally, you perform at a level that goes beyond mere competence and you take to a brand new level. It’s what Tiger Wood’s calls his “‘A’ Game.” It is what Mr. Kypros does when he gives a flawless piano performance (look for such in January!). It is what Emily, or Katie, or Ashlee achieve at times when they dance. It is what your teachers display when their lessons flow so wonderfully, a lovely rhythm with everyone learning. Sometimes, with hard work, we achieve quality.

Quality work involves five distinctive elements:

1. Quality work involves 100% commitment, involvement, and effort.
2. Quality work always improves.
3. Striving for quality work does not sacrifice good relationships.
4. Quality work performs to a high standard as determined by a rubric of expectations.
5. Quality work feels good.

Close your eyes and picture in your mind a time when you performed beyond a level of competence and at a level of true quality. It might have been on a test, or a project, or in art, music or athletics. Get that picture in your mind. And think about how you felt… it feels good to think about how hard you worked, how proud you felt. It feels really good, doesn’t it?

At Saint Patrick Catholic School, we have defined competence in school work at 80% because we think that is competence. But that mark is the minimum. It is our wish that each of you – this year and every year – do some school work of true quality.

Let’s think again about the young man in this week’s Gospel. Jesus invited him to perform at a level of quality. And do you know what happened? The young man did not accept the invitation. He was not willing to make that choice at that time. He was not looking for a choice. In fact, he was startled when Jesus gave him a choice of staying put or joining him as a disciple. The young man was given a choice and at that moment, he chose not to give up his possessions. He chose not to follow Jesus. He chose not to give the 100% needed to produce true quality.

Jesus has a way of challenging us. He says to each of us, “If you want to be my disciple and if you want to follow me, don’t expect an easy path. My path is not always an easy one.” All too often the road following Jesus is rocky, rutted, filled with various obstacles and pot holes.

We must understand that we cannot always perform at a quality level. Life itself is filled with various obstacles and potholes. We often times run short of time, energy, money, understanding or even desire to perform at that “quality” level. There are even times when we really try hard to achieve quality and we fall short. That is okay. The trick—and the important lesson - is to know it when you do achieve quality. And you will know. No one will have to tell you that your work is quality work. You will already know it to be true. And achieving quality is its own reward.

Think about this question, “Did the young man find salvation?” Even more, think about this— “Did he go to heaven?”

We do not know the answer. We can only know what Jesus himself said. Jesus said, “What is impossible for mankind, is possible with God.” God knows that we do not always hit the high marks, we do not always produce quality work. We don’t always treat people like we should. We are not always the best followers of Jesus. And often times, we have to ask God to forgive us when we don’t follow Jesus as we should. In mass, in prayer, in the Act of Reconciliation, and sometimes in Chapel, we ask for God’s forgiveness. God is always calling us to higher levels of following Him and He is always ready to forgive us when we fail.

As for the young man, I like to think that as he became older, and as he reflected upon and lived with Jesus’ words and challenge on that day, he began giving more and more of his possession away to the poor. He became a better person because of Jesus’ invitation. I suspect that when the young man finally died, he was welcomed into heaven with all the saints and angels who welcomed him in a great celebration!

Just like the invitation Jesus gave to the young man, Jesus extends an invitation to each of us to follow him and to be His disciple. He is not necessarily asking us to give up all of our possessions, but he is asking us to make some sacrifices to be quality people.

Let us accept Jesus’ invitation. Let us be aware of the difference between competence and quality in our spiritual, relational, athletic and academic lives. Let us strive to follow Jesus openly and freely. Let us always try our best to take it to a higher level in our service to Him and to others. Let us perform in a way in a way that is good, holy, pure and—yes—quality.