What is the greatest commandment?
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Mentorship is often associated with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. It is often seen as an adult helping a teen or pre-teen navigate the events life throws at them. We do not always associate mentorship with faith. The very opposite is true when we look at Sacred Scripture.
“And what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” 2 Timothy 2:2
This verse, and those similar, are often viewed as being applicable only to priests and deacons. It is not seen as a command for laity to obey and to take serious. Similarly, Titus writes in Titus 2:7-8 that we are to “set them an example by doing what is good.” He continues by saying that we are to show integrity and soundness in not only our words, but our deeds.
Just as a mentor through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters must set an example by their life and their words to the younger child they are mentoring then we, as strong and mature Christians, are to mentor others that are younger in the faith.
One of my favorite verses is in the book of Proverbs when, in Proverbs 27:17, it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” I imagine a person sharpening a piece of iron with another piece of iron. I also love to envision what the writer of Proverbs envisioned when writing those words.
I love to cook and, as many chefs (or home chefs) know, you often sharpen your knife in order to ensure it cuts smoothly and easily. It has to be sharp to do its job well. A knife sharpener is metal, just like the knife. The knife cannot sharpen itself. It cannot “will” or “desire” to be sharpener and it happens. It must have something to help it become sharp. It must have a sharpener.
?When the knife is sharp, it can do its job better and more effective. When we allow others to be our sharpener in the faith, we become sharper and are able to do our job as Christians more effectively. It is up to us, as Christians, to share the Gospel. It is up to us to tell others about Jesus. .It’s up to us to ensure we have a sharpener that will also make sure we are sharp in our faith.
It doesn’t matter if it is a spouse, a friend, or a priest. It matters that you have someone who can be your faith sharpener so you can do the work God has intended for you to do and do it to the best of your ability.
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
