MORNING PRAYER:
Good Morning… Let us remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God…
Fate vs. Destiny. If there was ever a time to talk about this it would be now.
Fate vs. destiny basically comes down to choice. We are a generation of people who have been motivated by a search for meaning and purpose. What is the reason that we were born? This compels us in a way that other generations have not been compelled. Can you imagine your grandparents and great-grandparents thinking deeply about what their purpose in life was? The need for survival was at the center of all decision-making to them. Most people followed a path of school, family, a paycheck, and providing for their families. But we in this generation and in this culture find ourselves asking about that deeper soul motivation: “For what reason was I born?”. And this is really a prayer. We need to hear our calling and know that deeper reason for why we were given life.
In this moment of transformation, the world was almost sent on a retreat. To think about how we will transform in this moment of time. This is an opportunity to engage those elements of our fate vs. ou
Fate is when we relinquish the power of choice to the circumstances. When we are born, some things are given. We have elements that make us up, like our biochemical elements, our DNA, our gifts, our intelligence. But fate is when we give up. We say “There’s nothing I can do here”. We give up our God-given power of self and co-creation.
Destiny is when we are in those moments, we choose to write the end of our stories, the end of our moments. We say “No, THIS is how it will end. I will not give this 
circumstance any power”. Destiny is determined by us deciding in the moment whether we will create what is to come next and recognize that we are not helpless.
“I cannot be helpless here”.
“I will adapt to the moment and to the circumstances”.
“I didn’t know I could do this, but I will move through it. I WILL.”
Of course, Jesus’ life had a destiny. Scripture tells us that “God so loved the world that he gave us His only Son, to die for our sins and that all who believe in Him shall have Eternal life.” Can you imagine if at the Wedding Feast of Cana, as Mrs. Estes spoke about earlier this week, Mary came to Jesus saying that the wine had run out and Jesus gave into fate and said “Oh that’s too bad. Better luck next time.”
Or if, as Mr. Ciccone spoke of yesterday, someone tries to dim our shine and we accept their definition of who we are and make ourselves small so that they may feel big? That would be giving into fate and not controlling our destiny, and I’m pretty sure that that is not in God’s plan for us.
There is a phrase that goes: “if you find yourself walking through hell… walk faster!”. I think that quote exemplifies where we are in our world today and shows that we can all become leaders and change the course of our own history. So let’s all stand together today, and walk a little faster, taking control of our destiny, and not giving into the times we presently find ourselves in. 
Let us pray… Dear God, You have a plan for all of us. If we have a pulse, we have a purpose. Let us remember today and always of your all-knowing power and wisdom, and seek to serve each other on our quest to discover what we are truly meant to be.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle… Pray for us…
Live Jesus in our Hearts… Forever!
Joseph DeLeo, Teacher, Morning Prayer December 10, 2020