We are all students and yet, teachers

November 3, 2002 -- 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. How do you continue your religious education? 2. What lessons do you pass on to others about God and life? 3. What is the connection between humility and learning?

Life-long learning is a way of life. All of us are students, students of life and love, of God and the world. The volume of knowledge makes it impossible for any single person to comprehend it all. Thus there is a need to continue our religious formation throughout our lives. And when the subject matter is theology, the study of God, we will need eternity to even scratch the surface.

The Gospel is clear regarding where we stand in our religious education: "One among you is your teacher, the rest are learners." Even the great St. Paul, as he waxed eloquently in his letter to the Thessalonians, was keenly aware as to the source of his message -- it was the word of God and not his own. Granted, he had been given the task of preaching (teaching), but the content (revelation) was sheer gift. Paul was merely the conduit through which the truth of God is communicated. St. Paul did not preach himself but the Lord Jesus, the teacher of us all.

There is cause for humility here. Preachers that leave the pulpit proud of their eloquence and influence on the congregation, thinking themselves teachers, have a rude awakening coming. Pride does come before the fall. Transformation of minds and hearts is fundamentally the work of God, not God's ministers even though their role is of great significance.

And yet we are, each one of us, teachers. This type of teaching happens in lived discipleship. When an individual puts into action Gospel values, learning is going on. Models are ultimately superior to mentors though both are needed. Better that our deed be bold and our words few. Here we have a spiritual pragmatism that is truly earth shaking.

What are the Gospel values that Jesus gives us to be lived in our daily life? A primary one is service. Reaching out to those in need -- be they prisoners, the ill, the uneducated, the lonely, the poor, the homeless -- we make Jesus present. According to Jesus' estimation, the greatest people are those who use their gifts in the service of others. Later in Matthew's Gospel there will be a great division between the saved and condemned based on care for others. Through baptism we are called to serve.

Another value of the Gospel is gratitude. St. Paul often used the refrain "We thank God constantly . . ." for the mysteries of faith: creation, redemption, and sanctification. Christian gratitude, though conscious of the gifts , goes much deeper. We are grateful for the love expressed in the gifts, especially the gift of Jesus. In him, the Word of God, we find our salvation and the joy of the Christian life.

A third gift that we must learn to appreciate and respond to is the gift of adoration. In our first reading from Malachi we are instructed to give glory to God's name. Our God is Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier; our God is Light, Love, and Life; our God is Giver, Given,and Giving. Or, according to St. Therese, our God is Love and Mercy. We do well to learn to adore and bless this God who is with, for, and in us.

Life-long learning! Graduation day never quite arrives. A blessing in disguise.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay.)