Why not?

By Steven Polley

Director, Office of Youth Ministry

Over the years in speaking with different priests I have heard them say that many times their homilies are prepared as if they were being directed toward them. As I write this column I feel that my words probably should take root in myself first before I go out and begin asking others to do things.

During the first part of my Lenten journey there have been two things that have really challenged me to go much deeper during this season of contemplation.

The first is a book that my wife, Pam, and I are sharing on our daily journey. It is “The Ascent of the Mountain of God” by Father Edward Hays. His reflection for Ash Wednesday was a story about former President Carter. This reflection has led me to ponder my journey of faith more profoundly. I invite you to reflect on his words. “He had applied to enter a nuclear submarine program under Admiral Hyman Rickover, who then interviewed him for the position. At the end of the interview Admiral Rickover asked, ‘How did you stand in your class at the Naval Academy?’ Carter answered, ‘Sir, I stood 59 in a class of 820,’ waiting to be congratulated. Instead he was asked, ‘Did you do your best?’ Carter began to reply, ‘Yes sir,’ but recalled that he could have learned more and so answered, ‘No sir, I didn’t always do my best.’” Rickover looked at Carter for a long time in silence and then asked one final question, which Carter said he never forgot – nor was he able to answer – “Why not?”

Ask yourself if it is your intention today to enter into this Lenten season with a desire to do you best to make this truly an ascent to greatness and holiness. Ask yourself if you seek to be engaged during these 40 holy days with such a passionate commitment that it will become the best Lent of your entire life. If that is not your intention, then ask yourself, “Why not?”

The second element of this Lenten journey is the weekly “Word Working” group that Pam and I are in. For myself, I have been drawn to Bishop Gilmore’s questions for reflection and sharing after reading the Gospel the second time. These questions are probing as they call us to look more deeply inside ourselves, possibly to find the enduring strength and holiness that lies deep within each of us.

Through Bishop Gilmore’s questions and the question of “Why Not?” we are called to journey deeper, but then again, I cannot ask or encourage you to do this if I am not doing it myself. I must continue to ponder how my Lenten journey is taking me deeper, then maybe I can again request you to do the same.

As I write this column we are into the heavy part of the diocesan spring activities: the retreat for freshmen and sophomores, one for juniors, seniors and young adults, and the annual high school rally. All three very powerful events and ones that I hope our youth will respond “yes” to. But this hope has drawn me to ask, what am I doing about it?

Frequently I find myself attending Mass either at the cathedral or another of our parishes. When I see young people, I often I will ask myself, why have I never seen them at one of our diocesan events? Oh, how easy it has been for me to walk away thinking, “I wish that someone would invite them and encourage them to go.”

But my question should be, why not me? Why am I not taking the initiative to invite them? Maybe part of my Lenten journey should be to do just this.

I want to encourage you to ask the same question, “Why not?” Maybe you see young people at Mass, ball games or other activities. And yes, maybe you do not have the opportunity for direct communication with them. But I would invite and encourage you to take a moment or two in your daily prayer and remember these young people. Through this prayer and the grace of God, our hope can be that they too will come to ask, “Why not?”