Grace and peace to you from God our Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit I am curious if any of you remember a favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Franke, who was my first grade teacher.

She knew how to make connections with her students that have lasted me through many learning experiences.

Calm, cool, and collected, I never can think of a time she lost her patience. Teaching is about making connections, with authenticity and love. Thanks to teachers whose lessons walk with us throughout life. They are creative and willing to make personal connections.

Able to adapt and teach to your own style of learning, because no one method works for everyone to learn.

A teacher’s vocation is truly one of love.

Great teacher’s have a love for teaching, including who they are teaching. I was fortunate to be a teacher both in the public schools and the private schools.

As I may have said, my first year teaching was in the very same room where I was a first grade student.

I wondered if I would be able to teach with the same love as Ms. Franke.

I decorated my classroom with interesting posters, educational alphabets, number corners, reading corners and everything that I thought a teacher needed.

Every day I prepared detailed lesson plans that I had to have available on my desk, trying to fill every educational moment.

That year was a year of learning, both for me and my students.

The greatest lesson I learned was how to remain calm, cool and collected with an attitude of love.

Teaching is all about sharing knowledge and encouraging growth. All done with loving care and kindness.

It has been a joy to watch many of my former students grow into adults.

I also learned an important lesson as a teacher when I began teaching at St. John the Evangelist school, a private Catholic School, where I taught 6-8 Social Studies and 6th grade math.

From past experience I knew that sixth graders respond differently to teachers and I was surprised on one of my first days.

A student, whose mother was also a teacher at the school, raised her hand and I called on her.

Her statement was loud and clear, “You’re not our real teacher !” I was stunned and I didn’t know what to say.

Everyone was staring at me waiting for my response.

My feelings were crushed like the heel of a boot on an empty pop can.

I caught my breath and continued to teach the class, trying not to energize that comment.

Just because I was their new teacher didn’t mean I automatically had their trust.

Over time we built that trust, but that comment never left my heart, it hurt to be treated that way.

Jesus was also a teacher.

He entered the synagogue in Capernaum and immediately began teaching. But his teaching was different, he taught with authority.

This was someone new, teaching in a way that was awesome. I wonder what the people must have been thinking.

Who’s this new guy, where did he go to school, what does he possibly know? Jesus is the teacher that everyone wants to take a class from.

He certainly wasn’t like the scribes, uninspired, simply repeating what was written.

Mark writes that the people were, EKPLESO, Greek for astounded.

This verb is not just a little excited, but blown away amazement, jaw dropping wonder.

Not only did the people hang on Jesus’ every word, but he did it with EXOUSIA, the Greek word for authority.

Authority that is beyond human ability, ability that only comes from God. Christ taught as one that knew the mind of God.

Sharing the good news of love and forgiveness for everyone. That’s the message we all want to hear and share; Jesus is love. People immediately gather round to hear Jesus.

Yet not surprisingly there is a critic in the crowd.

Immediately there was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. Heckling Jesus, “What have you to do with us, Jesus Of Nazareth?”

The same demeaning phrase Nathanael said to Jesus.

Words effectively challenging Jesus’ authority, “Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

Even the unclean spirits correctly identify who Jesus is, yet they rebel.

Like a great teacher Jesus tells the unclean spirit to be silent, and come out of the man.

With a convulsing body the spirit cries out and departs, leaving the man. We don’t know what happened to the man, but Jesus leaves the people in awe. Their eyes have seen and their ears have heard how Jesus is for us. Nothing will stand in the way of Jesus' love for us.

A new teaching of love and care for the other.

Actual care and concern for the other, even if it requires an exorcism of old thought and breaking down walls of hate and exclusion.

My first grade teacher was great, but think about Jesus as your favorite teacher. Do you remember how your favorite teacher helped you learn? Perhaps you are like me and still learning, guided by love and care. Jesus seeks us out to teach us that we can behave with loving kindness. That all people are welcome regardless of what they know and believe. For this we can say, “Thanks be to God.” AMEN