Jesus is the Teacher. The people's reaction to Jesus' ministry was: "A completely new teaching in a spirit of authority!" (Mk 1:27) Jesus was and is always teaching. He taught even while hanging on the cross. When Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus risen from the dead, she exclaimed " 'Rabbouni!' (meaning 'Teacher')" (Jn 20:16). On the afternoon of the day of His resurrection, Jesus walked about seven miles with two of His disciples and "interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to Him" (Lk 24:27). That evening, the risen Jesus continued to teach. "He opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures" (Lk 24:45). Jesus continues to teach us daily until His final coming.

Therefore, the body of Christ, the Church, must be constantly teaching. When the Church was born at the first Christian Pentecost, she immediately devoted herself to the apostles' teaching (Acts 2:42). Soon the apostles were arrested for filling Jerusalem with teaching about Jesus (Acts 5:28). "Day after day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching" (Acts 5:42). After Saul taught the people in the church of Antioch for a year, they were the first to be called Christians (Acts 11:26).

Teaching is essential to God's plan of salvation. Learn and teach.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 23, 1998

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 1998