Off to School

Today was my first day of the school year. I had sort of forgotten how many students there are when campus is full (about 35 000). Among those 35 000 about 30 joined me for the daily Mass. I feel so blessed to have a campus with a Catholic college that operates through the University. They offer Mass everyday except for Monday as well as Adoration and Confession. The Priests that I have met are all fairly orthodox but they get students; they get our needs and our lifestyle temptations. 

I had actually forgotten about the Mass today, but as I got out of class about 20 minutes before it started and was trying to figure out what to do for the next two hours I had before my next class, I literally heard a voice inside my head telling me to go to Mass. It was the best part of my whole day. The moment I walked through the chapel doors I felt just peace wash over me and I had to fight to keep an ear to ear grin off my face. 

The best part was how perfectly the Mass readings fit with the fact that it was the first day. If you missed it, the first reading was Col 3:1-11:

 ¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Basically it was the perfect reminder that I need to be living for Christ all the time; I can't separate Him from my school life. It also helped me to know that I did the right thing by not going to the party last night. Plus, after I spent time talking with some of the other students that were at Mass, which is helping me with my prayer/goal of making more Catholic friends.

So overall, good first day, and it's all thanks to Jesus.