Mtr Mary Trainor

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you  …*

Dear friend,

Folk legend Bob Dylan penned the words to Forever Young as a wish list for his youngest son. The artist names near-universal traits of goodness and valor to which I myself may aspire. Maybe you do, as well.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you

When I read the Daily Office Gospel appointed for this day, the words to Dylan’s song that just keep coming back to me—as I thought about the hopes and dreams of most parents for their children.

What we find at the end of today’s passage is Jesus, exhausted and famished. After his baptism, he goes immediately to the wilderness—where the devil tests him over the next forty days. Jesus successfully defeats the forces of darkness and evil—and is now ready to begin his full earthly vocation.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift  …

And then I think of Mary and Joseph, who know his destiny, but perhaps allow their imaginations to contemplate a different outcome.

No one knew exactly how God’s calling would work out for him. But the older he got, I imagine anxiety grew. When will he be taken?

As more years roll by, maybe they secretly hope things can be different, that they would live to see him married, perhaps with sons of his own. Maybe they dream of their own old age, being cared for by the wonderful man he had become.

May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young.

Such dreams could not be fulfilled, for which the world can be grateful. And here’s another note of gratitude: To those parents who lost a son in service to God’s purpose, I am also forever indebted.

—Mtr Mary

*Forever young. Lyrics by Bob Dylan