By Julie Godfrey Miller
Superior Catholic Herald
Homily, keynote address: Scattering the seeds
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RICE LAKE -- Bishop Peter F. Christensen presided at the Mass at the annual fall conference for teachers and catechists Oct. 10, at St. Joseph Parish in Rice Lake. The theme for the day was "Come With Me Into the Fields," which tied into the Gospel reading from Mt 13:1-9, about the farmer scattering his seeds on different kinds of ground.
During his homily he referred to his recent installation as Bishop of Superior, when he was led to his "cathedra," his teaching chair in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior.
He said he never thought of himself as a teacher, so he is asking the Lord for wisdom and to "help me be patient with myself. We've all been given a large task, and find it daunting." When it comes to patience, humility helps, he said. One person doesn't have to know it all or do it all. "You're all experts in your field -- not in all fields, but in your field."
He also commented on the Gospel image of the farmer scattering his seeds, in a way that might seem wasteful. He said Jesus did exactly that when he sowed the seeds of faith, and some, that fell in rocky soil, took hold the best.
Following the Mass and the presentation of awards for outstanding teachers and people in the catechetical ministry, Leland Nagel, the featured keynote speaker, presented "EEEECK (Encountered, Engaged, Embraced and Evangelized by Christ the King)"
Nagel is the executive director of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership.
Relating back to Christensen's homily, Nagel said he doesn't pray for patience anymore, because he fears God would give him more opportunities to practice it.
Continuing on the subject of the Gospel, he reminded everyone that sometimes seeds educators plant take a long time to germinate, especially if they are teaching high school and college-aged students. Much of the work of a teacher is "bamboo-like," starting out very small at first but then growing rapidly and to a great height.
Another topic he addressed was whether or not everyone feels welcome in the church, noting that he doesn't see blind cantors or eucharistic ministers in wheelchairs. Everyone is a child of God. Nagel reached into his pocket and pulled out a variety of medals, and said he couldn't reach into his pocket without knowing he is a child of God.
Nagel's presentation included activities for audience members, one which elicited a lively response was when everyone paired up to come up with different names for God.
"God is limitless, so let's not us be the ones who limit God." God has many names. "If you only use six, you begin to make God small. He added that the desert mothers and fathers of today's Christians had many names for God, that give a glimpse of meaning, but can only be truly understood by someone who has spent weeks in the desert.
Nagel also gave a small group presentation "EEEECK," with more on the topic.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2007