PENTECOST XV
September 5, 2021
“Listen and Learn”
In case you haven’t seen any form of news coverage in the past couple of weeks, guess what — it’s back to school time! I still feel as though I should be off to the store, shopping for school supplies with a child at my side expressing strong opinions about the colors and styles of notebooks, folders, and all related equipment. Lead stories on TV have featured college students moving into their dorms and youngsters of all ages hopping on buses, heading into new classrooms.
All this is in marked contrast with the beginning of school last year, when educators scrambled to find ways to effectively teach and communicate with students via online programs. Although schools are now open, and students and parents crave the normalcy of in-person school, there are ongoing concerns about providing both a quality learning environment and protection from a highly contagious virus. The challenges just keep coming.
Following the account of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus, many detailed rules and requirements were developed, and it was important for all the Jewish people to know the law and teach it to their children. The rabbis were honored and respected for their knowledge and understanding of Hebrew Law.
The oral tradition of teaching continues in accounts of Jesus’ ministry, as the disciples consistently addressed Jesus as “Rabbi,” or ”Teacher.” When crowds gathered around Jesus, time after time the Gospels tell us that he taught them. He didn’t lecture or reprimand, rather, his lessons were often taught in the form of parables. The story of the Prodigal Son illustrated God’s boundless love and forgiveness for his children; the Good Samaritan taught a lesson of compassion and kindness, as he gave aid to an injured man whose own countrymen had ignored him.
As congregations were established by the apostles, communities of faith continued the tradition of learning and teaching, as we learn from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (ch. 4). Jesus gives a variety of gifts to his people, so that there are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, all working together in ministry, building up the church, the body of Christ. Learning is a lifelong occupation — we can grow in so many ways by keeping our minds open, listening and observing and staying tuned in to the world and the people around us. We can never “know it all” and God’s word gives us guidance and challenges.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:10)
The writer of the Psalms uses the expression, ”fear of the Lord” which, (to our English-understanding ears) sounds as though we are to be afraid of God. This term, however, describes a right relationship with God — in that we are to worship, love, obey, and revere God. This relationship with God is the beginning, or the foundation, of wisdom, a gift, like faith itself, from our heavenly Father.
Learning something new every day,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers