As an adjunct professor at a Catholic University and as a teacher in a Catholic High School for over twenty years, I have found the truth is that not every student will respond to Christ or the teachings of the Catholic Church. That truth hurts, especially for those who know the pitfalls of trying to negotiate this life without faith, without Christ.
I still tend to take my students' rejection of Christ and the teachings of the Church personally. There are those who will think that I am losing my passion at winning the arguments with my students or that I just need to get them reading the Catechism or have them spend time in adoration and that will straighten them out. I beg to differ. My biggest testimony is that I'm still on the job.
Hearing criticism from well-intentioned people who have never taught the faith to students, never volunteered for teaching religious education at church yet who are quick to disparage Catholic educators and Catholic high schools and institutions used to get me very upset. I'd say to myself; "If they only knew the battles teachers face everyday, if they only knew that often the parents don't care and if they only knew one hundred other obstacles to handing on the faith, their tune would change."
Catholic educators know that if there is no parental faith foundation, the battle is multiplied one hundred fold. Parents will support their children in band, sports, performing arts, math, English and science because they feel these things are important. Try asking for the same commitment in religious education. (Pause for laughter)
So what do I do? Feel frustrated or defeated? Not me.
Mother Teresa reminds us to be faithful, not successful, in following God's call in our life. I feel comfortable in letting go of those who may not be converted or believe or follow the teaching of the Church while still loving them because that's what I see Jesus doing.
While my students and their families are in my prayers and while I've done my part in presenting the truth in a clear manner, I must let them go, not in failure, but with the confidence that God's word has been sown faithfully and His will be done.
Whether it's the people who walked away at the Jesus' teaching on His body and blood or the son in the parable of the Prodigal Son or even the rich man who went away sad because of his many possessions; Jesus didn't call a committee, He didn't yell louder, He didn't chastise their parents, He didn't call for vengeance, and He didn't blame their teachers or the society. Jesus let them go.
Jesus looked at the wealthy man with love and let him go. The Father of the Prodigal Son let the son go in freedom and welcomed him on his return. Those who refused to believe in the teaching on eating His body and drinking His blood lost out on the greatest gift God ever gave, the gift of Himself; body and blood, soul and divinity.
Those in any sort of Catholic education know the many joys and challenges. As a teacher of Mother Teresa's Contemplative Sisters, I know the joy of having students whole-heartedly committed to Jesus, so being with them for an hour each week is pure joy. I have brought over 50 students to spend an hour in prayer and adoration with Mother Teresa's Sisters and while most all of them agree they liked the experience, no instant, radical conversion takes place.
I also have given presentations at eighth grade Confirmation retreats where there is no follow up, no discipleship and absolutely no high school programs or youth groups for them. What happens to a kid then? Where the family should be the 'domestic church' this is sadly missing.
I've read in the introduction of a popular 'Theology of the Body' author that he blames his Catholic school teachers for failing to teach him the Church's teaching on sexuality yet his parents don't get a rebuke? I find that strange. Whose primary job is teaching the faith anyway? Was it their fault or his parents' or was it that he was not in a position to receive what the teachers were saying?
In the end I am a man of hope! I know what God has done with and through me and what His desire is with all of us; namely to bring us to Himself. The only appropriate response to love is love, as Venerable Catherine McCauley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, reminds us. So I will continue on with perseverance and joy as another school year comes to a close and thank God for the opportunity of being able to pray with and for students, for the grace of being able to share God's word with them and with thanks that it is God Who still speaks in the silence of the heart as He uses ordinary people like you and me to complete and fulfill His will on earth.
