Alliance for Catholic Education
The opening of this week’s Gospel almost caused me to overlook an important message, as well as the promise embedded in the second half of the reading.
Initially we hear about the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and a handful of other leaders at the time of Jesus’ birth. Although interesting and important in a historical and prophetic context, these lines didn’t initially resonate with me. As educators, we have all encountered a child at some point who wants to share every single detail of a story. All too often, I’ve felt the inclination to rush them to get to the point or to allow someone else a chance to talk.
But if we step back and carefully listen, the details allow us to connect with that student on a deeper level and get to know them and what motivates them. If we slow down and open our minds to this week’s Gospel, the opening gives us a glimpse of the relationship God has been intentionally building with all of humanity throughout the very winding and rough roads of salvation history. That sets the stage to hear the proclamation of John the Baptist:
“The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.”
As teachers, we encounter so many winding roads and rough ways throughout a school year! During this time of Advent, many are magnified as we approach Christmas break. Some of our struggling students find the added excitement of the season too much to handle, and their individual challenges become more prominent. For other students, the holidays can be times of sadness or fear due to uncertainty or loss at home. A break from school might also mean a break from security and consistency. Taking the time to watch out for what students need, often shown through their behavior, can reveal heightened stress, anxiety, and impaired impulse control. Being aware of this can prompt us to plan with care and purpose. Perhaps we can remind ourselves to slow down in our classrooms so that when a turn in the road or bump in the way comes up, we can respond with patience and compassion.
As adults we know this potentially hectic season is coming. We also know we have made it through many Decembers before. We know that these three remaining weeks of Advent will fly by. The children and students in our care don’t have the same experiences we do to help them stay attentive and prepare for Christmas. So we must redouble our efforts to watch, listen, and respond with kindness. We might also call on modern traditions like the Shepherd on the Search or Mary on the Mantle to focus our behavior and choices, much like John calls us in the Gospel to repent, forgive, and attend to preparing the way of the Lord.
The promise of Christmas break is near, and at the same time learning is ongoing. In today’s Gospel we hear of John preparing the way for Jesus’s birth, and during Advent, we are also called to prepare for Jesus’s second coming. Jesus’s birth straightened and smoothed some roads and ways, but there is more yet to be done. As we contemplate this mystery of our ongoing salvation, we know on a smaller scale that our work as teachers continues after Christmas break as well. When we return to school in January, we will continue to encounter winding roads and rough ways. Students will need to settle back into the routines as they learn and grow. With the graces received from celebrating Christmas and faith built on the promise of Jesus’s coming, we will persist. We must soak up the details of life shared with us along the way and draw on the gift of Christmas to continue to straighten the roads and smooth the ways of our students, colleagues, and families as we push forward.