Chapter One
The teaching style of God,
source and model
for the art of teaching the faith
[139] To truly help a person encounter God,which is the task of the catechist, means to emphasize the relationship that the person has with God so that he or she can be guided by God.
God will then transform the events in the life of this person into lessons of wisdom and liberation,
and the person will grow progressively toward maturity.
[140] Jesus is the perfection of this divine teaching style.
In Christ, the disciples learned how to pass on the faith:
calling the poor and rejected to them,
proclaiming the reign of God,
living a delicate but strong love
which liberated them from evil
and promoted a common life,
taking on a lifestyle which reflects this teaching:
hope in the Kingdom
and charity to one’s neighbor.
using all Christ’s methods:
word, silence, metaphor,
image, example, and signs.
[141] And now the Church,
a sacrament of Christ to the world,
is a living catechesis when the people of God
proclaim,
celebrate,
and live in the reign of God.
Down through the centuries,
in a variety of forms
(catechumenate, catechisms, religious life, and others)
the Church has continued God’s teaching style
in Christ under the power of the Holy Spirit.
[142] There cannot be teachers of the faith
other than those who are convinced and faithful
followers of Christ and the Church.
[143] For its part, the ministry of catechesis
is always, therefore, inspired by faith itself
and by Christ’s own teaching style.
Under the guidance of the Spirit
it leads people to a true experience of faith.
It underlines the divine initiative,
loving motivation, and respect of our freedom
on God’s part.
It highlights the dignity of the gift of faith
and the demand to grow in faith
on our part.
It follows the principle that faith unfolds slowly
and is adapted to different cultures.
It keeps Jesus the center of all faith
and the gospel the center of life.
It values community
which is proper to the people of God
who are the Church.
It is rooted in interpersonal relationships
where God is in dialogue with the believer.
It links words and deeds,
teaching and experience.
And, finally, it draws its power from the love of God,
and takes the form of a process or a journey
leading to mature faith.
[144] God’s wonderful dialogue with every human being
is the inspiration for catechesis.
Hence it is neither of a purely divine form,
without human interests,
nor merely of human form
without the divine presence.
It takes the form of God’s own dialogue,
echoing it tirelessly,
and it seeks several objects.
First, to promote a growing sense of the connection
between our assent in faith
and the content of the Christian message.
Second, to develop all the dimensions of faith:
knowing, celebrating, living, and praying.
Third, to move the person to abandon him or herself
completely and freely to God:
intelligence, will, heart, and memory.
And fourth, to help one discern one’s vocation.
[145] Genuine catechesis helps discern the action of God
in the life of the believer
through a climate of listening, thanksgiving, and prayer.
It likewise encourages active participation
among those to be catechized.
[146] God speaks to us in ways we can understand.
Likewise catechesis must seek a language
that effectively communicates the word of God.
Only by God’s grace can this be done.
The Holy Spirit gives us the joy of doing it.
Therefore, catechesis permits the communication
of the whole word of God
in the concrete everyday lives of people.
[147] Toward this end, the catechist must know and use
those educational tools and methods
that can be applied in this ministry.
Bill Huebsch is the author of numerous books, including Whole Community Catechesis in Plain English and The General Directory for Catechesis in Plain English (Twenty-Third Publications).
