» ‘No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, «Know the Lord,» because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord» (Jeremiah 31:34, NIV).
IN HIS MEDITATIONS, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius left us a list of people who had taught him something important in life. For instance, from Rusticus, he learned to look after his character and to read with comprehension; from Sextus, to take care of friends thoughtfully; from Apollonius, to have freedom of judgment and a firm resolve; from Alexander the Grammarian, to set aside all criticism against others; from Severus, to love family, truth, and justice.
From his father, Marcus Aurelius learned to care for his body, to tolerate criticism, not to boast about apparent honors, to be sober and meek, and much more. It’s logical that his father was his greatest teacher, because in those days father figures played a crucial role in the family circle: they were responsible for instructing the members of their family. And that’s precisely what God wants to do with us.
In John 6:45, we read Jesus’s words: «It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.» Are we being taught by God? One of the most popular phrases by Jesus is «Learn from Me» (Matthew 11:29).
Allowing our religious experience to have its foundation on other teachers, no matter how qualified they may be, is an attack against our spiritual growth, because it’s the teaching we obtain from our heavenly Father which enables us to enjoy a Christian life imbued with the knowledge of God, and all the spiritual and moral strength that derives from it. God longs for the promise recorded in the book of Jeremiah to become a wonderful reality: » ‘No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, «Know the Lord,» because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord» (Jeremiah 31:34, NIV).
What have we learned up to now about our heavenly Father? As little or as much as it may be, we can’t stop there, Today is another day to learn more about our Savior and to be gentle and lowly in spirit.
If Marcus Aurelius learned so many valuable things from his earthly father, we will learn many more—and much more valuable—things, because we have the best Father and Teacher in the universe.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Angelica Cuate
