Merry Christmas to our Transforming Catechesis readers and all those who share in promoting the Good News of our Lord! As we approach a new calendar year I thought it appropriate to reflect upon the current year, but purely by mistake ran across the following quote: “Never look back unless you are planning to go that way” by Henry David Thoreau.
One would think looking back might be helpful for improving upon the future! So I turned to scripture and found a couple of poignant versus. In Genesis 19 the angels warned Lot and his family to flee from Sodom and to not look back. We all know that Lot’s wife indeed did so and “was turned into a pillar of salt” (26). In Luke 9:62 Jesus states that “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Most of us are also familiar with the phrase “Hindsight is 20/20.”
How do we reconcile the two?
Surely we do not interpret “looking back” as a literal meaning, there has to be something more. We are all on a journey and looking back will usually benefit us. Perhaps Thoreau and scripture means to desire things of the past. We cannot look back with so much fondness that we would actually go back, for if we did we would surely miss the opportunity to appreciate what is to come. We must look back to reflect upon the past. That is what gives us clarity on our mistakes or shortcomings ao that we might not repeat our mistakes.
As Catholics, we have opportunities to reflect upon the past for those reasons. Each season brings with it moments to reflect on the life of Jesus and how we have responded to Gods call. In that light, a great part of our daily spirituality calls us to reflect on each day and identify ways in which we answered that call and on the contrary, moments when we missed thinking or acting as mature Christians.
As Catechists
As catechists, perhaps we might find immense value in consistently taking the time to look back but not be caught looking back! In other words, what would be the value in reflecting on our pasts to identify how we are responding to our vocation? Is it possible to embrace the good while letting go of missed opportunities?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me to share my faith with others. Help me to see when I have been faithful to you and allowed your Spirit to work through me. Help me to recognize when I have failed. I seek your forgiveness and ask you, Jesus, for the ability to accept my shortcomings and forgive myself. I pray for intentionality this year in my ministry that it may be the most effective it can be through you. Amen!
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