Mission & Identity

All who love me will keep my words,

and my Father will love them and we will come to them. (John 14:23)

(Gospel Acclamation, Thirty-First Sunday, Year B)

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’ (Mark 12:28-29) 

As a school community knowledge is very important. This teaching from Jesus, taken from the Gospel reading for last Sunday, gives us the source, purpose, and perfection of all knowledge. Fr James Kerr, old-boy of the College, says this about the Gospel: 

Of course, love in its fullness is so much more than the simplistic idea it is so often reduced to. It involves both giving as well as receiving, self-forgetfulness as well as desire, sacrifice as well as delight, faithfulness as well as freedom, truth as well as compassion, justice as well as mercy… I’m sure you could add many more facets of your own. As an idea we contemplate it is inexhaustible. As a reality we live… well… often it is just plain hard work, the hardest thing we will ever attempt in this life! And yet, at the same time, it is our very reason for living. Life would make no sense without it. 

When we speak of the commandment to love, we must always remember that it is not just laid down as a path or way to follow; a ‘do this and everything will be good’. Yes, love certainly is our sure path, but it is also something much, much more. It is our foundation, our beginning- we were created in love. And Love is also our end. Our fulfilment. Once we have love in its fullness, we have everything. We were made for love. 

We remain confident that the knowledge we attain, in classrooms and in extra-curricular adventures, is perfected by our faith and trust in God’s wisdom. We remain hope-filled because no challenge can exceed the love God has for each of us. And we remain confident that, cooperating with the justice and mercy of God’s love, an SPC education equips our students to be living sources of value and progress in our world. SPC is a community of faith, hope, and charity because they are the virtues of God’s love. 

It is one year since our much-loved teacher, Mr Gerard Willis, entered eternal life. Each November we are invited to remember all those who have died and recall how they inspired us and continue to influence our choices and actions. Love unites because it knows no limits. As we pray for Jenny Willis and their children, Patrick and Ruby, please know that we shall be especially praying for all SPC families this November at our Mass each Thursday. 

Gerard was a great Carlton man. So, when on Tuesday, a horse race named the Amanda Elliott (widow of former Carlton president, John Elliott) was won by a horse called Cataggio, with Bosustow coming in second, I could not help but think Gerard was pulling a few strings. (Ask any VFL fans of the 70’s and 80’s the significance of those names.) May your days be a joy. 

You will show me the path of life,

the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord. (Cf Psalm 15:11)