Headmaster’s Letter

From the desk of the headmaster

William L. Burke III

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

—Matthew 7:7

I have long loved this scriptural sentence, complete with two perfectly used semicolons. Early on, I noted that the first word, ask, forms an acronym: A for ask; S for seek; K for knock. What Jesus asks of us here is to be engaged—fully engaged —in the pursuit of truth through faith and reason.

When we pray for the health and well-being of a loved one or for any other cause under the sun, we ask God for help. When we ask a question in class, we seek enlightenment from a mentor or classmate. Sometimes answers are late in coming, as the Spirit often moves slowly, and so we knock, and we do so in faith, firmly believing that—if we keep on asking, and if we keep on seeking, and if we keep on knocking—we will one day have our answer; the door will be opened.

And how wide open so many doors have swung throughout this past academic year, thanks be to the grace of God and to our outstanding students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends who cooperate with God’s grace in the advancement of our most important mission.

I thank you all for loving God, working hard, and taking good care of one another.

May we connect soon and often, and may God continue to bless you and your loved ones every sacred step of the way.

With love and gratitude,

William L. Burke III Headmaster