“Of the 90 times Jesus was addressed directly in the gospels, 60 times he was called Teacher. This was the word the multitudes used. This was how the disciples referred to him. Jesus himself used the term when he said, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am” (John 13:13). When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he said, “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God” (John 3:2). (ref)
As every good teacher knows, the best way to explain complex or abstract concepts is to use examples from the lived experiences of those you are teaching … and if it can be weaved into a story, even better.
Now, given that the people who Jesus taught were farmers or fishermen, his use of agricultural and fishing examples in parables is common in the Gospels, as was his use of lepers as the marginalised that needed to be embraced by humanity.
In contemporary society, we have come to expect that, unless it can be explained scientifically, we won’t accept it. This attitude, together with our lack of appreciation of the real message that Jesus was teaching makes the task of connecting people to Jesus challenging.
As a ‘scientist’, I see so many parallels to contemporary theology and scientific theory. (I once spent an interesting afternoon in a physics class as we discussed the synergy between string theory and finding God in relationships.) I also recognise that much in science is still theory and is accepted on faith.
So, this week during our Memorial Mass when we remembered those who died while enrolled at the College, I experienced the reality that while love lives, no one is ever lost to us in death and that through nurturing our connections with each other we experience God.
Stay safe and happy and I will keep you in my prayers,
Frank Pisano
