We celebrate our children and another successful year of Religious Education. Religious Ed Director Siobhan Potter speaks about Jesus revealing himself in others and the deep faith she has observed in our children throughout the year.
homily transcript
When I was working on my degree in education at Nazareth College, I became a junior and I had to really start focusing on my major and choosing the classes that would not only help me learn all I could, but classes that really interested me and my love for teaching.
After meeting with some great people in the education department, they gave me one, simple next step to my road of getting my degree…
They wrote a professor’s name down on a post-it note and told me where to find him, because he was my new advisor.
Well…. I walked over to the right building, went up to the correct floor, and from there I walked the hall UP and DOWN about 4 times searching for this professor.
I kept seeing the same man in a terribly messy office, but I was little embarrassed to ask for help, because obviously I was lost. Plus – this man looked a little lost himself – or rather a little out of place.
He had a plaid shirt with a tie that did not match; a big swirl of messed up hair and a scraggly beard. There were piles of papers everywhere and more books that I have read in a lifetime.
Finally, I gave in and decided to ask this man how I could find the professor I was looking for that I had never met. I said: “Excuse me, sir. Could you please help me find this professor?”
I handed him the post-it note, and with a big smile he slapped the post-it note to his forehead and said: “That’s me!”
I felt so silly. Why did I not recognize this quirky looking man as a professor?
I was looking for a professor according to my assumption of how a professor might look. I was looking for someone who maybe had glasses, a neat office with organized books, and a leather briefcase sitting neatly on the side of their desk.
This quirky, extremely smart and lovable man was one of the best professors and advisors I have ever had. But how did I not recognize him as a professor at first?
Professors come in many different forms. Perhaps it was my own assumptions or maybe because I had the way he might look in my mind before I met him, so I was not more open to all the possibilities.
I think about this experience whenever I hear the gospel reading we heard today.
Jesus’ friends have all decided to go on a fishing trip – and like most fishing trips – they aren’t catching many fish!
So Jesus calls out to them from the shore…
And they don’t know who this man is!
How could the disciples not recognize Jesus?
How could the teacher and friend they loved so much be so unrecognizable so soon after he departed them?
Just like professors, and doctors, and hairdressers and construction workers come in many forms, Jesus comes in many forms, too.
There have been so many times in my life when I have seen Jesus come in many different forms. Sometimes in the most humblest of ways, too.
Back in December I was driving to work and drove past a homeless man who spends a lot of time under a bridge near the off-ramp of the expressway near my home. He sits with his dog, Zach hoping for food.
I pulled over on what I thought was one of the coldest days of the winter to offer him an extra blanket or two we keep in the trunk for watching soccer games or going to the beach.
As soon as I offered him the blanket, he thanked me and explained that someone close by let him sleep night after night in their warm auto body shop, and someone else might need it more than he did.
And then… his eyes lit up. Right away he asked me if I would like to walk with him to find someone else outside who would benefit from the blanket more than he would.
When we found someone, I saw the look in his eyes as he handed over that blanket. He was sincere, compassionate and filled with love. He was someone who almost had nothing, but when I saw him giving away more than he had, I couldn’t help but see Jesus beaming out of him.
All I could think of when he was giving this blanket away was Jesus asking us if we have two coats… give one away!
Where have you seen Jesus lately? In whose eyes have you recognized Jesus in your everyday life?
When we open our minds and turn off the stereotype of looking for a brown haired man with a beard wearing a robe and sandals, we can find find Jesus in the best places.
I see Jesus every weekend in the children of our religious education program as I walk the halls going from classroom to classroom.
Yes , Jesus comes to us in the form of children.
This should come as no surprise.
After all, it was Jesus who always invited the children to come to him and it was always Jesus who asked us receive the kingdom of God like a child.
Children have faith that is beyond measure. Think of the last time you had faith like a child… or even belief in yourself as children believe in themselves and others.
Years ago, my niece and her kindergarten class decided they wanted to raise money for the poor by selling lemonade. They were enthusiastic, and had an enormous amount of energy. They truly believed they could raise hundreds of dollars in this project! The teacher, being a little nervous because she knew it was lemonade and the going rate for lemonade was only 10c a glass, tried to harness their enthusiasm by saying, “well…… you may make twenty or thirty dollars and that would be great, too!” But…these children had extreme and deep faith that God would give them what they needed and more. Well…….in the end…those children raised almost four hundred dollars…….selling lemonade!!!! So even when others may try to harness our dreams, we need to continue, stay steadfast and hold on to the possibilities with God by our side.
The faith children have can shake and move mountains.
THIS is why I am so lucky to work with the children of our parish.
Jesus beams through them and I get to learn from them every weekend.
Often, when people find out I work for a church and run a religious education program, their question is: “Wow… you work for a church? Do you have a spiritual counselor or guide?”
YES! I have 95 of them!
They teach me how to celebrate how different every person is because of their willingness to share the unique gifts God has given them.
They teach me how to pray. One week back in November one of the 3rd graders was walking next to me on the way to a sing-along we were having, and it was hard to hear him talking to me as we were walking. I said “Oh I’m sorry – I couldn’t hear you… what did you say?”
He said: “Oh… I’m not talking to you. I’m praying to God right now. Sometimes you just can’t wait ‘til later to talk to God.”
They teach me how to be generous and selfless. The pre-k class was putting together food for the Jennifer House this year, and when they didn’t think they had enough food, the KIDS decided that they would bring in THEIR favorite snack. Instead of these children enjoying the snacks they LOVED most, they sent them to the women of Jennifer House to enjoy instead.
Not one child questioned this. The wisdom and generosity of Jesus comes in many different forms, especially in a four year old.
I could talk forever about how I recognize Jesus in the children of our parish. In a few moments, you will get to hear about each grade as they share their stories with you about their year.
So for now, I want to end by letting you look into the eyes of Jesus, so I would like to ask all the kids, teens, and teachers from the Religious Ed program and youth groups to stand.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US SEE JESUS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE!
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