Mentor: An experienced and trusted advisor
I believe we all have mentors, in various forms, entering and leaving our lives on a regular basis. Some give us some minor course corrections through their advice and guidance while others provide a longer lasting beacon that aids us in steering us along. Leading us to the right channels and avoiding the rocky shores. There have been veterinarians in my life that have shown me the right way to serve my patients and clients. And there have been some who inadvertently revealed to me how NOT to behave in a professional manner. I have had teachers who have helped me navigate to my chosen career path. I would also count the writers here at A Catholic Moment as mentors who have been examples how best to convey God’s word to you as readers. Laura Kazlas, the founder of ACM, has especially held this role in that it was she who gave me a break in testing out my desire and abilities to write.
I would say in all cases, our mentors, those who serve a vital role in our development, leave us. They, or we, move on in our careers or education. Or they may pass away. I am spending this past week with some friends from grammar school (Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jersey City, NJ). We discussed how sometimes families suffer when the matriarch or patriarch of the family pass away. Some family members begin to drift without the regular guidance of older, more experienced members. While some have internalized the lessons learned and continue to grow in spite of the loss. In fact, many go on to become solid mentors of others as a consequence of their personal growth. As a child one of my fondest memories was going to my Grandparent’s house every Sunday for dinner. One of the great things about my grandmother, who was definitely the matriarch of our family, was that she was willing to say anything to anyone who needed to hear it. In this way, like it or not, the person knew without any doubt what path they were traveling on and where it would lead.
at Catholic Sports Camps
In today’s first readings from second Chronicles, we read about King Joash of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Joash became King at the tender age of seven. An age where unscrupulous individuals in the court could have swayed Joash for the purpose of their own gain. Instead, he was guided by the priest, Jehoiada. As long as Jehoiada lived, Joash flourished and did what was right in the eyes of God. He rebuilt God’s temple and restored Judah to proper worship of God.
But then Jehoiada died leaving Joash without the mentor that he apparently so badly needed. Without the priest’s leadership Joash fell to poor advice of those princes around him who only had their own interests in mind. As a result, Judah returned to worship the idols of baal. When Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, tried to lead Joash and the people back to the worship of the true God, Joash had him stoned to death. Within the following year Arameans attacked and defeated Judah and deposed Joash who died without being buried with his ancestors.
While having these earthly mentors coming in and out of lives is critical to our development and growth, I think we must be aware of two things. 1) These individuals will always be temporary. They will eventually leave us in one way or another. 2) The best earthly mentors advise on just that…earthly things. Job choice and advancement. Human relationships. Educational advancement. As Catholic Christians we have the best mentor available. One that is not temporary and one that can advise us and mentor us in matters of this life and the next.
Jesus Christ is the face of God who came to earth to show us the Father. To show us what the Father wanted from us and how to lead our lives. How to treat others with love and how to love Him in all things. We have the Scriptures to lead us. We have God’s representatives (bishops, priests and deacons) on earth to help guide us. We have peers who may be further ahead in their walks with the Lord to serve as examples for us. Joash turned to self-serving princes who did not know the Lord for guidance after the death of his mentor Jehoiada. While forsaking his son, Zechariah. We are privileged to have over 2,000 years of understanding of God through His Son. The eternal mentor taking us on the path to eternity.
