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	A CHRISTIAN TEACHER

The Gospel

MATTHEW 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

The Media "Heaven"

Los Lonely Boys

“Save me from this prison. Lord, help me get away ‘cause only you can save me now from this misery. I’ve been lost in my own place, and I’m getting weary—How far is heaven—And I know that I need to change my ways of living—How far is heaven—Lord, can you tell me." The group Los Lonely Boys' song "Heaven" is a teaching song, namely, that one of the ways to lead us out of our misery is to open our thoughts and minds to God, and ask for help.

It is as though the music industry every once in a while, recognizes its power to teach, because on a regular basis, songs like “Heaven” by the group Los Lonely Boys are produced. Even though the song was released to entertain, the group is making a statement to America begging us to study our behavior, and in a sense, they become the teachers who direct us to pray, to be led out of the miseries that sometimes occupy our lives.

Likewise, Jesus commands his disciples at his Ascension to carry on his work, and become the teachers that the world must have if it is to survive the miseries of life. Teach them, he says, all “that I have commanded you.”

The question arises then: what kind of a teacher are we? We have all had the experience of being taught something in our lives. We quickly see that there are two basic characteristics a teacher must have. A teacher must know the subject, and they must be able to get it across. To know a subject is to let that subject in a sense engulf us. We must become so convinced of it that we accept it completely, and we let it become what we are. In the Christian understanding of things, then, we become God’s plan. If we are to teach this Christian Way, we have to know and be that Way.

A teacher must also be able to get the subject across. People should be able to come up to us and say, “Do you believe this stuff?” and the Christian would say, “Not only do I believe it, but I am showing it by my actions and I’ll be happy to help you understand it a little better.”

In today’s world, it is difficult to be such a teacher of Christianity. Jesus calls us to be those teachers, and even modern media sometimes reminds us of the same thing.

THOUGHT

What are the most important concepts that a teacher of Christianity should get across to the world in which we live?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, through your Son, you command us to teach our world. Help us learn the qualities of being a teacher of what your Son gave us and truly address the misery in our world. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike