Teaching is such an important part of God's plan that Jesus came into the world to teach (see Mk 1:27). The Holy Spirit has even given some members of the Church a special gift of teaching (see 1 Cor 12:28). Christian leaders "who do well as leaders deserve to be paid double, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Tm 5:17). Teaching is so important that the devil brings forth "false teachers who will smuggle in pernicious heresies. They will go so far as to deny the Master Who acquired them for His own, thereby bringing on themselves swift disaster. Their lustful ways will lure many away. Through them, the true way will be made subject to contempt" (2 Pt 2:1-2). However, the Lord overcomes the devil and continues to send out His teachers.
We all can be a part of the great movement of the Holy Spirit in teaching God's people. Even if you don't have the spiritual gift of teaching, you are called to teach by virtue of your Baptism. Parents are especially called to teach the faith to their children (Dt 11:19; Eph 6:4). In the Catechism, the Church quotes St. Thomas Aquinas: "To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer" (904). Therefore, we should not welcome false teachers (2 Jn 10), while we should welcome true teachers (see 3 Jn 10), and be true teachers ourselves.
| PRAYER: | Father, I love You so much that I will feed Jesus' sheep both physically and spiritually (see Jn 21:17). |
| PROMISE: | "Will not God then do justice to His chosen who call out to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them, do you suppose? I tell you, He will give them swift justice." –Lk 18:7-8 |
| PRAISE: | St. Elizabeth died at age twenty-four and was canonized just four years later. After the death of her husband, she gave herself entirely to serving the poor. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College