Catholic Education Sunday Homily – Part 2: Who Are We?

This article is the second part of the homily preached by Fr Adrian Danker SJ at the Mass commemorating Catholic Education Sunday, held on 11 September 2021.

“Who do you say I am?” is also a question we ask each other. It is a question that helps us understand one another and become friends, regardless of race, language or religion.

This is a good question to ask. The answers from our friends and classmates, from our teachers and parents, and from many others, are helpful. They enable us to know ourselves better, to understand our purpose in life, to consider God’s vocation for us and to appreciate the good deeds each of us can do to make the world a better and happier place.

This is why I wonder what Jesus would say to you and me if we dare to ask Him the same question, “Jesus, who do you say I am?”

I wonder if Jesus would say to us what He said to the first missionaries who came 200 years ago to Singapore, especially to those who set up schools.

That is, “I have chosen you; you are Mine. You are filled with faith to do great and wonderful works.”

The religious sisters and brothers, and their lay collaborators began our Catholic schools filled with that great deep faith too. They believed in Jesus’s call to proclaim God’s good news that everyone should have life to the full and everyone will be saved.

They gave themselves tirelessly and selflessly to educate anyone who came to Catholic schools, especially the last and lost, the least and little. Our schools, our Catholic schools, are God’s good works in our midst.

Our schools continue to contribute to our nation and the world. We are all better because of Catholic education that they began and many still continue to provide in Singapore.

Today I wonder if Jesus is saying the same to us who learn and teach in Catholic schools: “Remember God has given you faith, great faith; now ready yourselves in school for the great works God will ask of you for everybody else.”

The Apostle James echoes this in our Second Reading. He teaches us that the good works we do are our response to the gift of faith and the life we have in God.

Yes, faith and good works must go together as one. They must because what is true in our hearts must show forth through our actions.

If we say, “God is dwelling in our hearts,” as Jesus teaches us, then we cannot be Christian only by our words. We must be Christian by our works and actions. And what a gift we will be to others by the good we do! This is how our Christian faith will be, lived with integrity.

Catholic education helps every Christian in school make this his way of life with God and makes this her daily manner of living in community by serving everyone.

This article is the second part of the homily preached by Fr Adrian Danker SJ at the Mass commemorating Catholic Education Sunday, held on 11 September 2021.