Teachers should be like Jesus on the road to Emmaus, bishop says

Published: 2006-04-20

ATLANTA (CNS) -- Teachers must assume the role of Jesus as he walked with the two men headed to Emmaus when they deal with children who are often confused about what they should do, said the outgoing chairman of the National Catholic Educational Association's board of directors. There are also times when teachers themselves may feel as confused as the men walking to Emmaus, said Bishop Gregory M. Aymond of Austin, Texas, in a homily at an April 19 Mass during the NCEA's convention in Atlanta. Borrowing from that day's Gospel reading, the bishop said, "There are times when we walk this road," when teachers ask themselves "How does one teach as Jesus did?" and "Does it really make a difference?" "As we find him (Jesus) walking with us, asking probing questions with us, our hearts begin to burn," as happened to the men headed for Emmaus, Bishop Aymond said. "You and I have the privilege in our teaching ministry to deal with those probing questions, and not to give up on them (students)," he added.

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