Jesus wants His sheep to be fed physically and especially spiritually (see Jn 21:15, 17). He wants His people to be taught His good news. Jesus Himself repeatedly gave up His rest and food to teach vast crowds "at great length" (Mk 6:34). "He would teach in the temple by day" (Lk 21:37). After Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus risen from the dead, she called Him "Rabbouni" ("Teacher") (Jn 20:16). Jesus spent the afternoon of the day of His resurrection teaching the Bible as He walked for miles with two of His disciples (Lk 24:27). Jesus spent the evening of the day of His resurrection opening the apostles' minds to the understanding of the Scriptures (Lk 24:45).

After the first Christian Pentecost, the newborn Church caught on to Jesus' emphasis on teaching. The Church devoted herself to the apostles' teaching (Acts 2:42). After an angel freed the apostles from jail, "they went into the temple at dawn and resumed their teaching" (Acts 5:21). They "filled Jerusalem" with their teaching (Acts 5:28). "Day after day, both in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news of Jesus the Messiah" (Acts 5:42). They concentrated on "prayer and the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4). "The word of God continued to spread" (Acts 6:7).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, October 9, 1998

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 17, 1998