Mission Update – Term 1 Week 10
Earlier this week, I took a trip out to Officeworks to grab some items for a reflection I was running with Mr Husband and the Year 12 students. When I returned to my car and was just about ready to drive off, a young fellow reversed into me, damaging the rear door of my car. In that initial moment, my immediate thought was one of total frustration. After all, of all the things I needed that day, this was certainly not on the list! However, before I got out of the car I steadied myself – I thought quickly about the person who had just driven into me. Were they ok? Would they be upset? What could I do in that moment to bring just a little bit of calm to the situation? I got out of my vehicle, and there he was – a young man no more than 20. Very quickly I saw myself as a young driver in this man, and even though they are still in primary school, I saw my own children in him too…wondering how they might be encountered should they have their own bingle one day. We were both ok, swapped our details, and in amongst the several apologies he shared, we spoke about how it was all ok – these things happen, especially when we’re young, and as long as we’re both ok that’s what really matters.
It can be a difficult thing to do – to face a situation with a sense of calmness or patience, when all of your initial instincts are to explode or rush straight to a conclusion. Viktor Frankl, a psychologist who lived through the Second World War, wrote about this phenomenon. He was arrested and sent to a concentration camp, where he lost almost everything – his parents, his brother, even his wife.
In the camps, he saw suffering beyond imagination. People were starving, mistreated, and stripped of their dignity. But Frankl noticed something: even though everyone was in the same horrible situation, people responded in different ways.
Some became cruel, clinging to power wherever they could. Others gave up completely. But a few held onto their humanity- helping others, and finding reasons to hope.
Frankl realised later that the difference in those prisoners wasn’t in their circumstances, but in their response. He later wrote these words:
‘Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.’
He meant that even when life seems unfair, when we are confronted with challenges, or when we are struggling, the one thing no one can take away is our ability to choose how we respond.
In last Sunday’s Gospel we heard the story of the adulterous woman. Religious leaders drag a woman before Jesus, demanding justice. They remind Him that the Law of Moses says she should be stoned. It’s a tense moment.
They expect Jesus to react quickly – to either approve of the punishment or contradict the law. But Jesus does neither. Instead, he pauses.
Rather than speaking right away, He bends down and writes in the dust. We don’t know what He writes, but in that silence, something powerful happens. He creates space – space for reflection. Space for the accusers to examine their own hearts.
And then He says: ‘Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.’
One by one, the crowd leaves, until only Jesus and the woman remain. He looks at her and says: ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.’
Jesus doesn’t ignore her mistakes, but He chooses mercy over judgment. He creates a space between the moment of accusation and His response. In that space, He chooses love.
So what does this mean for us?
We all face moments when we want to react instantly – when we feel angry, hurt, or frustrated. Maybe someone says something rude, and we snap back. Maybe a friend lets us down, and we hold a grudge. Or maybe you battle peak hour traffic every day, and just the smallest thing can tip you over the edge.
But Jesus and Viktor Frankl teach us something powerful: there is always a space before we respond…and in that space, we have a choice.
How do you respond to those challenging moments in your day? Or in your life?
Do you choose judgment or mercy? Do you choose anger or kindness? Do you choose to react or to respond?
As we approach the end of Lent, it is a good reminder that there is time left to grow into the fullness of who God has created us to be – or as I would say to students – to move the dial just a little further along. Take the time to think about the circumstances or situations where maybe you need to create space. It could be at work, at home, or within a particular relationship…and next time you find yourself in that situation, remember, you have the power to choose how you respond. Let your response reflect the best of who you are, helping you to grow as a person – and perhaps even allowing others to encounter Jesus Christ through your considered words and actions.
It’s not easy, but it will be worth it.
Mother’s Day
I would like to extend a warm invitation to all our students, mums, and mother figures to our Mother’s Day celebrations next term. There will be two special celebrations:
- Thursday 8 May Mother’s Day Community Mass at 8.00am (Lavalla & Marcellin)
- Friday 9 May Mother’s Day Liturgy at 9.00am (Marian) Further details can be found in our flyer.
To find out more, click here.
Marian Lecture
On Tuesday 13 May the College will host a live stream of the Marian Lecture in the Marist Auditorium. The Marian lecture is an annual event hosted by the Marist Association. This years lecture will be presented by Professor Stan Grant, and will delve into the Marist theme for 2025; Pilgrims of Hope: Look Belong.
All members of the College community are invited to this free event. Further information and booking are available here.