"Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence…"

This quote from the first letter of Peter captures the heart of a religious educator's role. Your students have tons of questions. Depending on their age, they may simply be curious, soaking up everything they can. They may be starting to think more deeply about the rituals, symbols, and practices of Catholicism, wanting to understand more completely. Or they may be sincerely struggling with their faith and with issues involving the church. As their teacher, you must always be ready to give an explanation.

That can seem scary. In fact, I’ve heard more than a few people decline the invitation to teach religion because they felt inadequate. Yet, you don’t need to have a Ph.D. in theology or be a gifted speaker. The most effective way to convey faith to students is to let them see it shining in you.

I was teaching junior high religion classes when my husband was killed in a car accident. When we met for class, my students didn’t want to memorize the mysteries of the rosary or learn the parts of the Mass. They wanted to know how my faith made a difference in the worst time of my life. They wanted to know whether this tragedy caused me to abandon my faith. They wanted to know how I could still believe in God if God could allow something like this to happen. They wanted to see my faith in action so they could not just learn about God but experience God through me. The questions were difficult and challenging. Yet facing them and living through the experience together brought healing for me and for the students. We all grew in our faith.

With gentleness and reverence, open the window of your life to let them see the reason for your hope. Being a religious educator is not so much about teaching kids the correct rules and proper answers. It is more about modeling for them how to be a person of faith with a commitment to living that faith in everyday life. It is in your words, actions, and attitudes that they most clearly see the face of Christ.

Amy Florian