Today's Saint, John Baptist de la Salle, was a 17th century French priest who founded the Christian Brothers teaching Order. He emphasized classroom teaching over individual instruction; and the use of the vernacular instead of Latin. He is the patron saint of teachers.
In the first reading today St. Paul exhorts Timothy to take as his norm that sound doctrine that he heard from him, in the faith and the love that are in Christ Jesus. He tells Timothy to guard this rich trust. This is indeed what St. John Baptist de la Salle did. He instilled this exhortation in his own brothers and teachers and encouraged all who teach the Catholic faith to do the same: including the faithful – especially parents, the first teachers of their children.
In the gospel passage we see what might have been St. John's motivation to dedicate his life to teaching youth: those who are like them – in their faith, in their trust, in their goodness, in their ability to be taught, in their ability to obey – are they who will be admitted to the Kingdom of heaven. And he recalls Jesus saying that when you welcome a child with love, you also welcome Jesus himself.
There is a great need in the world today for pure, authentic, genuine and loving Catholic education! May we do our part to pray for its success and to do what we can to educate any who come our way about the wonderful new life of grace that is available by association with Christ Jesus in his Church!
Blessed are they who delight in the law of the Lord.
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