Professor of my faith

   No one knows my faith better than I do (and God, of course).  Sure there are people who know more about faith than me.  And there are people who know more about religion than me.  Still, no one but God knows more about my faith than me.
   Someone who is knowledgeable about a subject can get to a point where they can proclaim it before others.  My faith has been just such a subject.  God has led me to where I can stand before others and share about God in my life.  One of the ways we do that is when celebrating together at Mass during the Profession of Faith?  We are "Professors," proclaiming about the topic that connects us -- our faith.
   I think that God also calls us to go beyond that community and be a professor of our faith in other areas of our lives.  At this point you might be thinking, "Me, a professor?"  You are already doing just that, because a "Catechist," is one who shares their faith.  Whether you are a Catechist Leader in a class, an Aide, or a Helper in some other capacity, you are sharing your faith.  Even if you are not involved in catechesis, living the faith is sharing it too.  It is in your words and actions that Jesus reaches all in this ministry (children, youth, adults).  When we open ourselves up to God's way we will be shown the steps to take.
   Anytime we look ahead at a large task, it can seem overwhelming and scary.  If we look back at something we've accomplished its easy to identify the small steps it took for completion.
   Coming out of high school I wanted to be a newspaper reporter.  I had no idea that God had other opportunities in mind when I studied Journalism in college.  None of our experiences ever gets wasted.  The communications skills I've developed in that training have been valuable in the job market as well as in ministry at multiple Churches.
   When I came to my current Parish (in Aug. 1992) I had no experience working with children in a Religious Education capacity.  Through God's and peoples' guidance I realized that being a Catechist is not just about teaching religion or faith, rather it also includes sharing my faith (and you sharing yours too).  Then the children/youth/adults connect what they learn to their own faith; Faith is not taught, it's caught!
   The exciting part about professing my faith is that I caught it, and I want to share what I caught.  The faith that I caught has shown me the great love of God, and that gives me hope.  There is a Quaker song called "How can I keep from singing?"  The chorus is "No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging.  Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?"
   Keep clinging, and keep singing!