Reflection for the St. Lucy's Religious Education Program

This past Wednesday, May 31st, 2017, I was asked to give a short reflection during a Holy Hour for the teachers of the St. Lucy's Religious Education program. Following is the reflection. This reflection can be applied to all who are responsible for the teaching of our children in the Catholic Faith.

Why do we do what we do with the students in our religious education program? Why do we come, week in and week out, giving up our Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings to come and teach those entrusted to our care? Why is sharing our faith in God so important that we sacrifice so much time and energy to share our faith with these young people, who at times don’t really want to be in the classroom learning about this Jesus Christ? Why is it so important to do so?

It’s because that this Jesus, who died 2000 years ago on the cross, and rose again on Easter Sunday morning has had a profound effect on each one of us. Our relationship with Jesus is so important to us, we feel compelled to share it with others.

Towards the end of the Gospel of St. Mark we read, “Jesus said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.’” Then in the Acts of the Apostles we read, “...you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” So here we are, on Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx, far from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, carrying out this command of Jesus to be his witnesses!

The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and the church on that first Pentecost. Then the world was on fire with the saving power of God. These men, who were afraid to leave the upper room after the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, became bold witnesses of the fact that this crucified Jesus is now alive. Peter, in Acts, says, “God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Each week, all of us in the St. Lucy’s religious education program, are called to share this good news with those who come to our classes. We are called to share with our students that Jesus died for each one of us and that he is Lord and Messiah. We are called to plant the seed of faith in Jesus Christ with all those we encounter.

Let us always proclaim the gospel with love and devotion to all we come into contact with here at St. Lucy’s.