The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. —Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)
I was watching a story about a private school in New York for underprivileged students named the School of St. Benedict’s. What an amazing place this is, and the students who go there are amazing people. It is a school where they learn order, respect, and love for each other, and a place where they know that they are loved and will always be loved, all within the framework of a very successful school experience. To hear some of the boys talk, one by one, was so exciting, so empowering. This school is equipping these students for their lives that lay ahead of them. The graduation rate is extremely high, and a large number of graduating seniors go on to college. The motto that I saw written on the wall at the school says it all: “Your last worst day was yesterday.” Such a great and inspiring message of hope for these youth who have probably seen many “worst days” before they got to the School of St. Benedict. Now they can know that no matter what tomorrow may bring, they are surrounded by those who love them and will do anything to make it better. This is exactly the message that Jesus brought to us last week as we celebrated Easter. No matter what your worst day has looked like, because of the love of our Lord, that is over and finished and done, for now we have hope. Now we have comfort. Now we have the love of Jesus that will carry us through every day that is to come. Our last worst day is over because we know the love of Christ. And that is a love that can and will conquer all.