Teachers must deliver lessons of Christian living – Bishop

BELIZE

A special liturgical celebration was held virtually for all managers, principals, teachers, parents, friends, and stakeholders in Catholic education on September 24. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Lawrence Nicasio of Belize City-Belmopan and livestreamed via Guadalupe Media Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In his homily, Bishop Nicasio asserted that teachers must live who they are. “We must be Christian teachers! We must live as a Christian family lives. We must allow the Lord Jesus to reign in our lives, in our hearts, in our classrooms and in our homes,” he said, according to a report from The Christian Herald.

This, Bishop Nicasio said, means then that teachers must know Him, love Him, and serve Him. “In doing so, we give meaning and purpose to our lives. In doing so, we live lives knowing that we are never alone.”

“Can you truly be a teacher if you are ignorant of the Teacher, the Teacher of all teachers, Jesus the Lord?” Bishop Nicasio questioned.

He continued, “Can you truly be a teacher if you teach only by word and not by example? Can you truly be a teacher if you teach only to get a salary? What then is the purpose of teaching?”

Like the Teacher, Jesus Christ, teachers have been called and sent on this mission  to deliver the lessons of Christian living. He reminded teachers to give the gift they have been given “unconditionally” to those who will be the future guardians of Belize and the world.

“In Jesus’ company, we are companions on a journey. Know each other, love each other, and serve each other. This is what the Teacher, Jesus desires: ‘As I have done, so you too must do’!”

Bishop Nicasio commented that teachers ought to be the best teachers they can be even in the midst of anxiety and uncertainty.

He concluded his homily quoting Pope Francis, “Do not be afraid, Jesus is waiting for you to do his work successfully.” To this end Bishop Nicasio hoped that God’s Word and Eucharist would be their strength, and that teachers never get tired serving Him and serving each other during these challenging times.