Complete love

For a new semester

In the beginning of a new semester, my mind resonates with Peter in the gospel.

Peter the fisherman had worked hard all night and had caught nothing. Likewise, we had done many things last semster and produced not much fruit. Maybe we had great plans for the summer break and had done nothing. We feel not ready and unworthy to teach students.

Peter's confession would be mine: "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

Nevertheless, the Lord says to Peter and us, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men."

Cathing men is a goal of education which all teachers desire to achieve. If it is so, the following question is how we catch fish.

The question reminds me of a movie: A River Runs Through It.

A father and two sons all went fishing one last time together and a son caught his biggest fish in the river. With a big smile, Paul who had superior skills in fly fishing humbly says, "Just give me three more years before I can learn to think like a fish."

A River Runs Through It

In order to catch fish, we have to think like fish. It does not mean that we have to be savvy and wise in all things to boast us before the students. Instead we should be a fool, so as to become wise as St. Paul taught in the first reading .

The reason is clear that the wisdom of the world is foolishness in the eyes of God and we have nothing to boast about because everything belongs to God.

In this sense, the movie teaches us the truth about life: "To him(Paul), all good things-trout as well as eternal salvation-came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy."

We are artists not just teachers; believers not just leaders. How often do we need to share ourselves including our shortcomings with students instead of knowledge to be true teachers! How much do we need to believe in students' potentials instead of scores!

"You can love completely without complete understanding." I treasure the line in the movie.

Now we can say that we can love others completely without complete understanding.

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.