Photo by Pavol Svantner on Unsplash

What follows is the reflection offered as part of the informal, multigenerational service, held to mark the start of the academic year and return of church programming after the summer hiatus. When we hold such a service in place of the principal Sunday morning liturgy, I hesitate to call it “relaxed”. (That’s what we call our Saturday night, truly “lazy” and very brief 45-minute services!) This Sunday service is still quite full and structured, but I rephrase all our prayers in accessible language, while preserving the content/intent, and I tailor my message to engage the children, as the main purpose here is to have the kids with us for the duration of the entire service. Normally, they step out to benefit from their own programming; but, I believe that it’s important that once in a while, the children observe what happens during the entire service, participate in the Eucharistic prayer, and take liturgical leadership roles (reading, prayer, serving), so that it comes fairly natural for them later on, as they grow older. Yet of course, this motivates me to make the service a little more accessible to them and newcomers/guests.

Here is the summary of points I offered to the kids on this occasion — though it always turns out a little different when it goes live, as the children will have the chance to offer their input and thereby, direct my thoughts.

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“When two or three gather in my name, I am with them” is the phrase from one of our readings. Today we went back to church after the summer break, like earlier in the week – to schools and jobs. We might not like returning to routines and obligations, but we can appreciate being together again. When we are happy together, each person feels even happier than she does alone. Isn’t that how we can tell that God is truly with us? But, it won’t feel good to be together, unless we treat each other right. When you fight with your siblings or friends, or upset your parents, do you feel some kind of heaviness in the home or over your shoulders? Tension in the air? Yes. That’s something that blocks the feeling of the presence of God (though of course, God is never “not here”).

So, we have some rules to help us decide what to do in the moment, when our feelings become stronger than our ideas of what is right and wrong. Habits/rules help with acting right despite our feelings. Have you ever played a game where you didn’t really understand the rules? It’s not easy, and never ends up being fair. It feels like new rules pop up to take away points from you, or you miss out on something to earn points. Well the 10 commandments we heard read to us today are those rules that help us play fairly in “the game of life”. They are all about respect – of God, others, and self. 

Respect God by believing there IS one God, who is ONE for all, and ONLY one (i.e. don’t give things or ideas undue hold over you). Also don’t use the word OMG casually. That’s already #1-3. Of the rest, #4 and #10 are about respecting yourself: your energy levels by resting regularly, and all that you have in life – things and abilities – by not being envious. With this, having enough rest actually helps because when we are burnt out, we become resentful, but if we are rested, then the things we lack, or difficulties we face actually hurt us less. These rules about self bracket those about other people: respect all life – don’t kill literally or with rude words/actions; respect relationships, starting with the earliest ones that we have (i.e. parents), and moving on to partners (eventually in marriage, but first friends/classmates/coworkers) by staying faithful to them; and lastly, respect other people’s possessions, by not stealing. And #9 is about respecting both others in their right to know the truth AND your own integrity, by not lying. 

Of course, everyone breaks the rules sometimes, and so then forgiveness comes into play and wins the game, even though we might feel like we lose, or it’s not fair, that others are not “right”, yet it is we who have to let it slide. If you are sad, “win” your sibling back by telling them so – directly and alone, not gossiping – but if/when they say “sorry”, be prepared to forgive many more times than 1 or even 77! And if it’s you who messed up and someone tells you that? Then admit it. Yes, God will do whatever we ask when we ask it together. But, it would not be about “magical” things like winning the lottery, or no homework in schools forever, but about us living together again, peacefully and without heaviness/tension – this God will always grant, as long as the two of us truly ask for it together. That’s actually what’s really magical! Strong relationships protect us from life stressors (e.g., burnout, loneliness, bullying and rejection) – it’s like a shield, “the armour of light” in one of our readings today. It’s not perfect. You’ll have challenges. But it will help, as God helps.