BACK TO SCHOOL WITH….TEACHER JESUS
The start of a school year is filled with a variety of emotions and tasks. When I was teaching, I had feelings of hope and apprehension. What will be the character of my classrooms? What exactly will I be teaching? How do I set up my classroom for success? How will I manage the home-work balance? How will I get on with new colleagues?
As a parent I wonder how I can best support our family in their educational journey. I know that I am the first teacher but I’m also working with the parish and school in their formation. But realistically, I also understand that our culture for better or worse is also teaching our kids. I have to turn to Jesus to guide me as family teacher to lead our family in wisdom.
The guiding light of the Catholic teacher and parent is the example of Jesus the Teacher. He was given the title, Teacher or Rabbi more than any other in the New Testament. He knew what it was to teach a challenging curriculum – the Kingdom of God. He knew what it was to teach students who didn’t understand. He knew what it was to have dark days filled with rejection. But he also knew the joy of deep communion and the rewards of selfless service.
Although our minds and hearts are directed to classroom teachers and catechists, we all teach; if not with words, then with our examples. We are part of the great work of bringing God’s reign among us.
Teacher Jesus,
you light the lamps of learning,
guiding us along wisdom ways.
Let us learn to reflect your light to each other.
Teacher Jesus,
in the home of Mary and Joseph
you listened with gentle ears to their holiness and hope.
Let us listen to your voice resonating through our homes and schools.
Teacher Jesus,
your lessons inspired and challenged,
yet you knew how it felt to be misunderstood.
Let us know your compassionate presence is with us.
Teacher Jesus,
you opened your arms wide
embracing the broken, incomplete and vulnerable.
Let our homes, parishes and schools be places of welcome and belonging.
Teacher Jesus,
amidst the urgency of your healing and preaching,
you paused, abiding in blessing.
Let our busyness be interrupted with prayer.
Teacher Jesus,
when the tempest on the Sea brought fear
you were peace at the centre of the storm.
Let us keep our eyes focussed on you in troubling times.
Teacher Jesus,
you pointed to hypocrites and rebuked misusers of power
offering a better path of justice.
Let us walk paths of integrity strengthened by your companionship.
Teacher Jesus,
singer of sacred songs and dancer to divine rhythms
your mission was marked with joy and celebration.
Let us find joy in our journey through the school year.
Teacher Jesus,
we pray to your Mother and all the saints in heaven and on earth
that we feel accompanied and supported.
Bless us and guide us,
Amen.
Les Miller is a husband, dad, grandfather and catechist. He has served the Catholic education community for 40 years as teacher, chaplaincy team leader, Department Head. AQ Instructor, textbook writer, and Religious Education and Family Life Consultant. Les authored the 25 Questions Series, Words for the Journey and award-winners Catholic Teacher’s Companion and Northern Light. Currently, he is an instructor and advisor with the Archdiocese of Toronto’s online Catechist formation program and lead contributor to the St. Monica Institute’s series on praying with art, Abide in Beauty.
