Word of the Week

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Teaching: Didache (Gk): meaning “teaching, doctrine, has been taught”. It can also convey the act of teaching in a gathering place in front of a religious assembly.

Due to the close link of this word to informed, I’ve decided to just direct you to the word study on informed (Greek root of this word is the basis for the English word catechism) for our weekly consideration of the CCC. It is attached to this week.

The word teaching can generally be located 78 times in the Holy Bible: 14 times in the Old Testament and 64 in the New Testament. The aforementioned Greek term can be found 30 times in the NT, with 5 verses from the gospel of Mark. Mark employs this term to communicate Christ’s authority in the spoken word (larger theme to the whole gospel). In fact, Christ is not only communicating with astonishing power the spoken word, but the dynamism of being the Word incarnate (Mk.1:22, 1:27, 4:2, 11:18). He teaches with such authority that a singular command expels demons (Mk.1:21-28). In addition, there is a strategic word play with the Greek that ought to sharpen our understanding of the relationship between teaching and doctrine. That is, the power in our own teaching comes into view to the extent it is rooted in the doctrine that has been handed down through the ages (1 Tim.6:20, 2 Tim.1:12-14).  Mark also wishes to highlight that Christ’s teaching is new, unlike anything seen before, especially noting the error in the ways of the chief priests and scribes (Mk.1:22, 11:18, 12:38).

In the many circles of teaching, there is great emphasis on the methodology in which a person is to practice his or her profession of teaching. Often overlooked is what methodology means, defined as that “study of practicing inquiry”. More revealing is the Greek compound root, meta- "goal; after" + hodos "a traveling, way”.  One can say that a method is no more than following a way with the goal (end) in mind. Surely, Christ is both the way and the goal…but can a way be the goal?  In the case of Christ, emphatically yes! Christ journeys with us in all things, especially in our “profession” of who we are in our Profession, and he does so that we might attain our goal in Heaven, the life after this. So let our methods and practices of profession be a reflection of the authority of Christ, “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn.14:6).

“Experience is the worst teacher; it gives the test before presenting the lesson”

--Vernon Law

Primary Texts Consulted

• Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.

The Catholic Hour Home Page
Comments or Questions?
Contact Webmaster