|The Agony of Christ in the |
Garden of Gethsemane
Father Bogdan beautifully demonstrated a most perfect pedagogical method of teaching—the use of the Scriptures. He taught us in this way by a detailed study of Exodus, where Moses introduces the people of Israel to God—emphasizing that this is the work of youth ministry. Those of us called to youth ministry are to introduce young people to God, much like Moses did with the people. He spoke about how this process involves a gradual description of who God is by the use of the Scriptures. He encouraged us to not present God as a concept, but as a dynamic, living reality with Whom we have a continual loving relationship. The living God and a living faith in Him is transformative, and not a simple pietism, tradition, moralism, or belief out of fear. When these things are separated from faith in a living God, and then shared in this way with our young people, they will reject it. He encouraged us to show our youth the challenging path of pursuing and loving the Living God, who transforms us, and whose work we do in complete humility and in the utmost sincerity. We are also to show them that our vertical relationship with God is directly connected to the horizontal relationships we have with others. We are to teach young people by our example that all human beings are made in the image of God, and therefore, we are to show them a generous faith where we show unconditional love and mercy to our fellow human beings.
|Philip Brings Nathaniel to Christ (Gospel of John 1:45)|
- In our work we are to have a good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and to be prepared to answer their questions about them as honestly as possible.