What do students hear from us?

Sunday, Jan. 27, 3rd week in Ordinary time.

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

“and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them: ‘Today, this Scripture passage has been fulfilled in your hearing’”. [Luke 4:20-21]

These lines, from Luke’s gospel, caused me to think about what our students hear. What do they hear when we talk to them? What do they hear when we discipline them? Do they hear praise? Do they hear condemnation? Do they hear encouragement? Do they not hear anything at all? We speak with students all the time. Sometimes it’s with the words of a lesson, the explanation of an assignment, or the telling of a story. Sometimes it’s in our actions and we don’t use words at all. Sometimes it’s in how we interact with colleagues, and the behavior and attitudes we model also ‘speaks’ to students.

This weekend’s readings are about listening and gifts. The people of Israel hear the law after being exiled, and after listening intently, have a big feast and celebrate together. They are reestablishing their community after living in exile for so long. In the gospel, everyone in the synagogue listens intently to Jesus as he teaches them about scripture, about God and ultimately reads from the prophet Isaiah.

People are willing to listen to Jesus, and to Nehemiah, because they recognize the wisdom and importance of what they are about to say and teach.

As educators, are we acting in a way that students recognize the importance and wisdom of what we are about to say and teach? Or are we going through the motions, hoping some students will catch on?

It is important these two readings were paired with St. Paul’s reflection about gifts to the Corinthians. This classic passage reminds us that all gifts are different, just as all gifts are vitally necessary.

Are we speaking in a way that helps our students understand their gifts? Are we listening so that we can hear how we might want to use our own gifts to better our communities and help others draw nearer to God? When we can do that, then we will be ready to better ‘look intently at him (Jesus)”. [Luke 4:20]