By Godman A Mendem | Evangelist & Educator | Founder of Catholic Front Gospel Ministries
September marks the dawn of a new academic year. Across the globe, teachers are preparing to give their absolute best, students are buzzing with the excitement of discovery, and parents are making profound sacrifices with prayers for excellent results. This season invites us to look at the holy childhood of Jesus. By walking in His footsteps, every one of us can become the exceptional learner and teacher God called us to be.
As the scripture says in Luke 2:46-47:
“On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers.”
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1. SCHOOLING: Recognizing Our Shared Need for Growth
No human being possesses a monopoly on knowledge, and no one except God is infallible. The omniscient God, incarnate in Jesus Christ, humbled Himself to sit at the feet of the temple elders. He listened intently and asked questions of the Jewish teachers of the Law before offering His own profound insights. If the Lord Himself submitted to this process, who are we to claim a fullness of knowledge? Jesus reminds us that every parent, student, and teacher is incomplete on their own – we are all perpetually enrolled in God’s school of lifelong learning.
2. LISTENING: The Foundation of Understanding
To match the brilliance of Jesus as both a student and a teacher, we must master two divine tools: attentive listening and purposeful questioning. Together, they allow us to penetrate the deepest depths of human intellect and spiritual wisdom. True listening requires a quiet heart. It must be fiercely protected from the distractions of noise, impatience, and side commentary, and completely cleansed of pride, bias, and self-interest.
3. QUESTIONING: A Journey of Humility and Light
The Scripture notes, “On the third day they found him sitting in the Temple” (Luke 2:46). This three-day timeline beautifully mirrors the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ:
- The First Day (Good Friday): Symbolizes Christ’s suffering and obedience. It calls us to submission, even when interacting with those who may know less than us.
- The Second Day (Holy Saturday): Represents the tomb, demanding total humility and the emptying of self.
- The Third Day (Easter Sunday): Ushers in the Resurrection. This brings spiritual enlightenment, intellectual rebirth, and divine uplift.
True humility enables us to engage in positive questioning. This means asking questions out of a sincere desire to learn and grow, rather than a prideful urge to challenge, hurt, or mock others.
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4. LEARNING: The Circle of Shared Wisdom
Throughout our lives, we are called to learn and teach simultaneously. What you have mastered may be a mystery to another, and what you lack can be taught by a peer. Classrooms thrive when teachers learn from colleagues and students learn from classmates. Homes flourish when parents and children learn from one another. As this new school year opens, let us integrate this holy exchange into our schools, workplaces, homes, and churches so we can move our communities forward.
5. ASSIMILATION: Turning Information into Character
Assimilation is the vital spiritual and cognitive process where new information is deeply absorbed, digested, and integrated into a person’s core identity and worldview. In the context of learning and teaching, assimilation serves as the bridge between merely hearing a truth and actually being transformed by it. A student has not truly learned until the lesson moves from the notebook to the heart, and a teacher cannot effectively guide others until they have personally lived out the truth they preach.
6. TEACHING: Impartation and Inspiration
Teaching is the sacred art of imparting knowledge and inspiring souls. However, you cannot truly teach what – or whom – you do not know. To teach by impartation, you must first master the subject matter through disciplined listening and questioning. To teach by inspiration, you must deeply understand the unique heart of your student – their fears, their current knowledge, and their gaps. You can only unlock their inner world by listening to them and asking the right questions.
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7. ANSWERING: Wisdom Beyond the Classroom
The fruits of a teachable spirit stretch far beyond school walls; they manifest beautifully in marriages, workplaces, boardrooms, and digital spaces. Those who listen, question, and reflect before speaking bring immense value to every conversation. They understand that sometimes, silence is the most powerful answer. By holding their tongue, they avoid the modern trap of posting and deleting, or speaking and apologizing, which so often happens when people react in reckless haste.
8. AMAZING: Living Out the Mind of Christ
Let us carry the attitude of Christ into this academic year: choosing to listen, inquire, and comprehend before we speak, act, or react. This is the ultimate path to becoming amazing students, teachers, parents, spouses, and leaders. The secret to a life of impact is simple: listen to God, listen to others, and never stop seeking His truth.
As the Savior promises us in Matthew 7:7-8:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, as we knock on the door of this new school year, grant us the humility to listen, the wisdom to ask, and the dedication to learn and teach, so that by seeking Your truth, we may be crowned with excellent and lasting success; We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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(c) Godman A Mendem | Evangelist & Educator | Catholic Front Gospel Ministries
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