TradCatKnight: Crisis in Catechesis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you remember that Gospel incident when Jesus, aged 12, was lost for three days, and was found by His parents in the great Temple at Jerusalem? He was discussing with the doctors of the holy Mosaic Law. He was only 12. They were amazed at His wisdom and His answers to their questions.

But Mary had a shock of relief at finding her Son safe. She spoke to Jesus rather as if He had never been away from her before. “Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing!” St. Luke goes on to assure us that Jesus went back to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph and – I quote – “that He was subject to them!” That means obedient and respectful. The Evangelist also notes this sequel: “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men” (Lk 2:49-52). 

Notice that there is no mention here or anywhere else of Jesus attending a school. We rather suspect that He never did go to any earthly school. We know that He could talk with His heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost at any time. His holy Mother, brought up in the Temple, had been trained in the Law of Moses. This included the celebrated Ten Commandments and many more rules of good conduct, morality, and justice for the Jews to observe. Jesus certainly did not need earthly school training. 

Catechesis in the Old Covenant 

What about the Jewish children of other couples? Did God command that there be a Jewish school system for the Hebrew boys and girls? Did God want those children to learn His laws and obey them? Did He have some teachers in mind who would pass on to children the laws of God specially revealed to Israel by the great lawgiver Moses? 

The answer to all these questions is: Yes. The parents were the ones who would teach God’s laws to those children.

Let us go back to the formative years of Israel when, led by the great Moses, they were tramping across the Mount Sinai desert toward the Promised Land beyond the Jordan River. This story is told in the Pentateuch, that is, the first five books of the Bible, starting with the Genesis. 

The fifth of these books is Deuteronomy. In chapter 4, Moses says:

In chapter 32, Moses delivers his famous Canticle of the Law, “Hear, ye heavens, the things that I speak…” He concludes saying to all the people:

Notice that the law of God is written, as well as delivered, taught, meditated on, kept and done. What are these exhortations by Moses? It is a scriptural witness to home-schooling. 

Let us conclude with a citation from the Book of Ecclesiasticus:  Read more »