Day 117 – Who should teach?

Today’s reading: James 3

In chapter 3, James gives us an important warning.

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.”

James says that this is important because a teacher, if making only minor mistakes, can lead large groups astray.  Who should then become a teacher?  Not someone who is ambitious.  Not someone who wants to lead.  Rather it should be:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.”

In other words, it is the person whom the gospel has had an effect on, that is the person who should teach. It is the person who is humble, who thinks he doesn’t know enough, that will be called to formally teach the faith.  Consider the persons of Saint John Paul the Great and Pope Francis as good examples.

Tomorrow: James 4