From today's gospel: "Taking a child, [Jesus] placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, 'Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.'"
From Lasallian Reflection 4 (2018-2019), Lasallians: Hearts on Fire: "As Lasallian educators, we should not be afraid of winning over and moving the hearts of our students; on the contrary, we must earn their trust and affection. It is a matter of creating a positive educator-student relationship, since it leads, together with our personal witness, to a more effective learning process. By using the right pedagogy, we can achieve the great goals of Lasallian education, among which leading our students to God stands out in a special way."
So many goals: grades, college acceptances, winning athletic competitions, end of course assessments. Yet for us as Lasallian Catholic educators, we cannot ignore that receiving children means that we are to lead them to God. Of course, providing the education needed to break the cycle of poverty opens the door for students to know and understand God in their lives. But without knowing God, that education provides no true meaning. How does your pedagogy lead students to God? How does your relationship with your students help them receive God in their lives?
Live, Jesus, in our hearts!