For Our Graduates

First of all, congratulations on the conclusion of your last school year—a very special school year in many ways with quite a few additional uncertainties for you. Therefore, a heartfelt congratulation is in order.

There are crossroads in your young life. Crossroads— at the end of a road, you can go in different directions— straight ahead, to the left, or to the right, along with the questions where to go, how to continue? Your road, your school career, your years of secondary education are now coming to an end. At the end of this “road” you will receive a diploma. You will complete diploma exams and testing designed to assess whether you have done your best during these past years, whether you have properly developed your own gifts, and whether you have reached the level to get a job or pursue further education. This completion is a snapshot between your past at this school and your future elsewhere. For some this is surrounded with more tension and uncertainties than for others. It is difficult to say anything general about this, but it is still quite profound in your young life—for, how to continue?

It is probably one of the first times that something is asked of you in a more conscious and independent manner. To some extent you may have already “practiced” your answer in a speech or a paper, but now the question becomes certain. After the official completion of this learning phase, what is next, what do you want, what are you able to do, what are you allowed to do? Theses are a few of several questions. Behind them, of course, lies the deeper question: Who are you really—you, on your way to adulthood, to a place in society? Who are you before people and most of all…before God, the Creator? I sincerely hope that in everything that is understandably on your mind, the latter is and remains a life question for you. Who are you before your Creator, who gave and continues to give you gifts? Who are you before His face, Him on whom you are totally dependent, down to the smallest things of every day? “Remember now thy Creator” is the call which certainly comes to you, also in these times.

When I was still a school counselor, I often heard students sigh, “Sir, now I have to choose something that I will have to do until retirement.” This sounds dramatic, of course, but happily a person is suited for more than one task as long as through God’s guidance one may discover and develop one’s own talents of heart, head, or hands. That is a particular process in your young life. However, one thing is needful, namely, that you will be brought into a reconciled relationship with God, that you may serve and fear Him and that you may—praying and working—come to a place where you may earn your living in an honorable way before God, where you may also serve in dependence and under the blessing of the Lord.

That can go calmly but also via crooked ways. That can involve many heights and depths in this first part of your life’s journey the Lord willing. Then you make choices, you take steps, and you go in a certain direction. Where to go? How to continue? Why? What drives you? Then the very highest is not always the very best. Then hopefully earning as much as possible is not decisive. Then something reveals itself from within you, from your heart. Then the practice of life reveals who you are before people and…especially before God, He who gives you life and breath. He who stood at the beginning of your life, through birth and Holy Baptism—His name connected to your name. Even without many words, your life choice becomes evident. What is of real importance to you? Where are you headed? What are your goals? What do you stand for? What…do you live for, and where will your life’s journey end?

Therefore, the Lord asks you at this crossroad, “If then I be a Father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a Master, where is My fear?” (Malachi 1:6b).

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