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Good morning, Kristin,
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, filled with gratitude and joy. As we begin Advent, I was struck by a story Archbishop Etienne shared today about his sister, a Benedictine nun. While teaching her middle school religion class, she called on a student for an answer, only to hear him reply, “Uh, Sister, I didn’t have my hand up.”
I imagine many of us can relate to Sister Nicolette’s experience—and I know I’ve been in that student’s shoes, too!
The anecdote introduced a retreat Sister Nicolette was leading, titled after the student’s response. Archbishop Etienne posed the question: “What if our reply to Jesus, when called, was just that: ‘Uh, Jesus, I didn’t have my hand up’?”
I’ve certainly had moments when that thought crossed my mind. As we begin Advent, I reflect on how easy it might have been for Mary to say something similar. Yet, instead of hesitation, she offered a wholehearted "yes," even amid the uncertainty of what she was agreeing to.
I am deeply grateful for each of you and the many ways you answer God’s call—often without knowing the full path ahead and, perhaps, even when you’d prefer to remind God that you didn’t have your hand up.
This Advent, I pray you are graced by your many "yeses" and filled with the abundant hope that flows from each one.
With gratitude,
NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent
Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle
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