Jesus: The Difference Maker

            What difference does following Jesus make to my own ministerial goals? My immediate response was, “All the difference.” Historically and incarnationally, Jesus, the Son of God, walked the walk of humanity because God, the Father, loved us all so much, and eventually empowered His children through the Spirit to be disciples of His word and example in the world. However, as I pondered further, I knew I had to unfold the detailed “why” of my response and “how” He has been an ultimate inspiration for my work in ministry. The three pillars of Foundation, Teachable Discovery, and Active Doing have served as the “why” and the “how” Jesus is a difference maker in my own ministerial goals within the realm of catechesis and formation.

Foundation

            A foundation is the strong groundwork for how something is supported so that it can be built. As a cradle Catholic, there was never a time that I did not know Jesus. Whether it was in Religion class at school, at Mass in my parish, receiving God’s gift of grace through the sacraments, enjoying fellowship events, working in community service, learning prayers at home with my parents, listening to Bible stories read aloud at bedtime, or working on a writing assignment, Jesus was always there. He was there through His preaching and teaching in scripture. He was there at Christmas Eve Mass. He was there in the Eucharist. He was there through the connectedness of family, friends, and church. He was there on Easter Sunday. He was there when my husband suffered two strokes. He was there at the joyful births of my two daughters. He was there when I walked the challenging walk of divorce and annulment. He was there in quiet conversations and in energized activity on the school playground. He was there when I smiled at graduation and when I cried at a funeral. There was never a time in my life that Jesus was missing. This Immanuel “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) foundation has helped me to consistently grow and strive toward sharing Jesus with others in my ministry.

Teachable Discovery

            The best example that demonstrates the concept of teachable discovery and the impact Jesus has upon my own ministry of catechesis and formation is when he said, “A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Can we ever learn enough about Jesus and the impact He, the rabbi, makes on our lives as Christians? From the time I listened to the Word of God as a small child at a weekday Catholic school Mass to the analysis and research within the content of my Christology course in graduate school, I have learned and discovered who Jesus is through his teachings. I have been greatly moved and influenced as an educator myself over the last 30 years through His parables, His conversations, and His examples in the Gospel which demonstrate God’s unending love, mercy, and compassion for everyone at all times. This teachable discovery has helped me embrace my own doctoral studies while continually striving to be a student more like her paradigmatic rabbi so that she can better serve others.

Active Doing

            Active doing is taking what is learned and making it a lived-behavior and consistent habit. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, calls us to wash one another’s feet as he has washed ours (John 13:14-15). Live the gospel message with all your heart and all your soul to the best of your ability as often as possible. Whether it is proclaiming the Word of God at Mass or serving those who are hungry at Sunday Supper or gathering a group of Confirmation teens for a service project to welcome the catechumens into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass or listening and responding in small groups while facilitating a scripture study or attending a training workshop for catechetical leaders, or simply sharing a hug with a friend in need, Jesus is making a positive difference all the time. He said, “…Get up, let’s go from here” (John 14:31). Getting up and going in the world is the student being like the teacher as she discovers the message of Jesus, and then actively puts it into play with her Spirit-given gifts and talents. Following Jesus does make “all the difference” in the ministry of my catechetical and formational goals. How blessed am I?