“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
My favorite bible verse matches beautifully to the vocation of a religion teacher. What a privilege it is to share the Good News with little saints in the making! It is thrilling to listen to children share their faith and love for Jesus. This is the best part of being a religion teacher. Rejoice always!
How can I teach about Jesus without spending time with Him first? Praying continually provides a source of wisdom and strength for daily teaching. I pray on my way to work, at the start of each lesson with my students, before lesson planning, when the copy machine won’t work, if a student needs my prayers…the list goes on! Most of the time, I just pray that I will teach well and that the Holy Spirit will guide my lessons. Pray continually!
A thankful heart is a happy heart. Giving thanks in all circumstances is a way of trusting that God has a plan for everything and that He is with us each step of the way. Whenever I feel that I am in a challenging situation I try to remember to thank God for some aspect of it. I certainly don’t always remember to do this, but when I do, I find renewed optimism. Focusing on the blessings of being a teacher provides a burst of joy and happiness. Give thanks in all circumstances!
Finally, I would like to share a quote from Pope Francis:
“Even if at times it may be difficult and require a great deal of work, and although the results are not always what we hope for, teaching the faith is something beautiful! It is perhaps the best legacy we can pass on: the faith!”
I love this encouraging quote by Pope Francis from The International Congress on Catechesis. When seeking God’s will as a teacher it is good to remember that we are teaching a subject that is truly all about life-long learning and beyond! The work that we do is for Jesus, our loving Savior. That’s definitely something to rejoice about! Let us proudly take St. Paul’s words to heart as we teach with the joy of the Gospel.
Rejoice and Teach 