Thoughts from Readings

Since I was not paying appropriate attention at Mass yesterday, I went to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to read through what I should have been able to pay attention to.  Although not as useful as hearing it at Mass, the one thing I did take away from reading the three readings (First, Second, Gospel) was a strong focus on the idea of purification. 

For me, the take home message is that I need to work on purifying my heart and mind so that I can be a better person and a better servant to others.  I need to work harder to not be the selfish person I can be and often am.  I need to focus more on others and how my role in life is really not about me, but about how I can, if I try hard, to have a positive effect for others.  The readings remind me of how I so very frequently forget or ignore that idea of being of service to others in my life. 

I hope to work harder at being a better professor for my students in teaching them and in guiding them in research.  I hope to work harder to be the better husband I can be for my wife, the better father I can be for my children.  I want and need to be a better me for family and friends and my community. 

Knowing what I want to be is far different than being what I want to be, however.   That is the conundrum.   I need to work harder to not be selfish.  I need to work outside of my own hurts, and fears, and anger.

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