Disciples on a Journey
Who doesn’t like a journey? When you live in the Peace Country everything is a journey. To visit our families, we take a journey. To visit the mountains, we take a journey.
In September, a journey begins. Teachers, students, parents, family members, school administrators, school board members. We disciples are all on a 
journey, with our youth.
Reflect on the Road to Emmaus. Disciples journeying with Christ. The destination could not have happened without the journey. It was a journey of learning, self-discovery and spiritual enrichment as Jesus “cracked open” the words of a “book” and its writers to nourish the hungry; the disciples who sought to comprehend the cruelty of the previous days.
What are we doing, as disciples, to help our small disciples on this journey? We all have a responsibility to “crack open” the books for our students, our children, those with whom we have been entrusted.
Parents: do we talk to our children about their day? Do we give thanks at the table for the food we are privileged to enjoy? Do we set aside a family prayer time each evening to reflect on the events of the day in light of a scriptural reading, making our gratitude and requests known to God? Do we have rules regarding screen time? Do we read aloud to children before bed? Their school libraries are filled with delicious mental nourishment for the journey. Do we seek the assistance of grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members to help us on this journey?
Administrators and board members: do we make decisions with the best interest of children, ALL children, in mind? Or are decisions made based on the “bottom dollar”? Are we present in the schools or do we simply “show up” once or twice a year for the “obligatory” school visit. Have we actually talked to teachers?
Teachers: do we model Christian living for our students? This is a rather personal question in many ways, but surely attendance at Mass on the weekends demonstrates to our disciples that we honor our faith and our commitment to their faith. Do we strive to demonstrate Christian virtues of love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, hope, generosity and justice? Do we ourselves seek the help available when we feel overwhelmed with life, before we are in crisis?
I am well aware that many teachers are dealing with overcrowded classrooms, with numerous students who are particularly needy. Try going through your class list and having lunch or snack break with one student alone every day (with the door open of course!)
Our journey to Emmaus is not a “quick trip.” It requires patience and endurance. “Jesus did four things ─ took the bread, blessed it, broke and gave it to them ─ then their eyes were suddenly opened. This is the Eucharist, the holy sacrifice of the Mass.”
I pray that on our “journey to Emmaus” we will all seek the best for the disciples who follow us knowing that nourishing their lives fosters the betterment of our entire community. Semper fidelis!
Prayer for teachers
God grant you the courage and faithfulness to journey each day with your students. May the peace of Christ be ever in your hearts, in spite of the chaos which often surrounds you!