September 25, 2009
Catechetical Sunday
Catechesis and the Proclamation of the Word: A reflection on the Catechetical theme for 2009
By GERALDINE HEDINGER, O.S.B., Director, Office of Adult Formation
In the Old Testament, we read of the prophets being called to proclaim the message of God to the people. Jesus called the disciples who followed him unreservedly, being taught daily the lessons Jesus wanted them to adopt in their living. At the conclusion of Matthew’s Gospel, we hear Jesus tell the disciples to call others, baptize, and teach them all he has taught them.
Jesus teaches us how to proclaim the Word — to do it the way he did. He called. He baptized in the Spirit. He taught them the ways of the law and the Spirit. He modeled this by the way he lived.
We are the baptized disciples today. This duty of proclaiming and teaching the Word belongs to us. If not us, then who will do it?
But how? And who is responsible?
All of us are responsible. First of all parents. They are the first to have daily contact with their children. Modeling the Catholic faith and practices is the first way of proclaiming the Word. It is said that habits, attitudes and personality traits are formed by the time a child is six years old.
Presiders, ministers at Mass and the entire assembly are key to the community being formed in the Word. The Mass is our primary form of catechesis. We have the Word proclaimed, broken open in the homily, prayed with in the Eucharistic prayer, received in the Eucharist, and challenged to go out and live it.
Directors of Religious Education, Catholic School Principals, Catechists fulfill the important role of assisting parents in the religious education of their children. Religious educators can only build on the foundation parents have formed in their children.
Above all, the bishop with his pastors are responsible to provide all the above persons with the appropriate tools to carry out their responsibility to proclaim and catechize in their particular role.
Now the How
How do parents proclaim the Word and catechize? Some ideas.
- Pray daily with children, beginning when they sit in the high chair. Children learn to pray by praying.
- Teach respect toward all.
- Read stories of the saints - models of our faith.
- Model forgiveness and reconciliation in the family. Children learn to forgive by watching how adults do it.
- Attend and participate at Mass with energy and enthusiasm. Take little ones along.
How do religious educators and pastoral leaders proclaim the Word and catechize?
- Love the Word with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind.
- Pray with the Word daily.
- Study the Word with diligence and openness.
- Teach the Word as Jesus did.
- Proclaim with humility and perseverance.
If we are in the position of being a catechist, in whatever capacity, can we say with Isaiah, “Here I am?” Can we follow the disciples at the beckon of Jesus’ call, and take to heart Jesus’ command at the end of Matthew’s Gospel?
We need strong parents. We need strong religious educators. We need strong pastoral leaders.