What is essential to educate in the faith? Because the catechesis is just that, to form in faith. And it is not only for children. Forming others is an art that requires wisdom, as is educating or forming for Christian life. What is important, what is a priority, what is central? How should it be taught or transmitted? And what is the profile of the educator and the catechist?

In his homily during the Jubilee of Catechists (25-IX-2016), Pope Francis glossed some words of St. Paul in his letter to Timothy. He asks him to keep "the commandment without blemish or reproach" (1 Tm 6:14). It seems that the apostle wants us to keep our eyes fixed on what is essential to faith, on the center of faith.

First, the important thing, the center: that heart that gives life to everything in the Christian life, says the Pope, "is the Easter advertisement , the first advertisement: the Lord Jesus is risen, the Lord Jesus loves you, he has given his life for you; risen and alive, he is at your side and waits for you every day". And we must never forget it.

Francis points out that, in fact, "there is no more important content, nothing is more solid and actual. Every aspect of the faith is beautiful if it remains united to this center, if it is permeated by the paschal advertisement . If it is isolated, it loses meaning and strength".

The Pope stresses that we are called to live and proclaim the newness of the Lord's love: "Jesus truly loves you, just as you are. Let him in: despite the disappointments and wounds of life, give him the possibility of loving you. He will not let you down.

This central commandment of which St. Paul speaks leads Francis to think also of the new commandment of Jesus: "That you love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12).

Secondly, the Pope pauses to point out how God's love should be proclaimed: through effective love for others.

These are very valuable guidelines for evangelization: "God-Love is proclaimed by loving: not by force of convincing, never by imposing the truth, much less by rigidly clinging to some religious or moral obligation. God is proclaimed by meeting people, taking into account their history and their journey. The Lord is not an idea, but a living person: his message comes through simple and truthful witness, through listening and acceptance, through joy that spreads. One does not proclaim Jesus well when one is sad; neither does one transmit the beauty of God only by making beautiful sermons".

Francis insists: "The God of hope is proclaimed today by living the Gospel of charity, without fear of bearing witness to it even with new forms of advertisement".

In a third reflection, he stops to reflect on how the educator of the faith should be, and specifically the catechist.

With reference letter to the Gospel of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus, the Pope observes that the rich man does not see beyond the door of his house, where Lazarus lies, because he does not care what happens outside. "He does not see with his eyes because he does not feel with his heart. Into his heart has entered the worldliness that numbs the soul. Worldliness is like a 'black hole' that engulfs the good, that extinguishes love, because it devours everything in the self. Then one sees only the appearance and does not look at others, because one becomes indifferent to everything".

Following the comparison with an eye disease, Francis says that this serious blindness of the rich man in the parable often adopts a strabismic behavior: "he looks with deference at famous, high-ranking people, admired by the world, and turns his eyes away from the many Lazaruses of today, from the poor and the suffering, who are the Lord's favorites".

But the Lord looks at those whom the world abandons and discards: "Lazarus is the only character in Jesus' parables who is called by name. His name means God financial aid. God does not forget him, he will welcome him to the banquet of his Kingdom, together with Abraham, in a deep communion of affection".

The rich man, on the other hand, "does not even have a name in the parable; his life is forgotten, because he who lives for himself does not make history". The Pope sees a great contrast between the life of this man, opulent and presumptuous, with a continuous claim to needs and rights (even after death) and the life of the beggar:

"The poverty of Lazarus, however, is manifested with great dignity: no lamentations, protests or derogatory words come out of his mouth." This is a valuable lesson for educators of the faith: "As servants of the word of Jesus, we are called not to flaunt our appearance and not to seek glory; nor can we be sad and displeased".

This is how catechists should also be: "We are not prophets of misfortune who take pleasure in denouncing dangers or deviations; we are not people who entrench themselves in their environment, launching bitter judgments against society, the Church, against everything and everyone, contaminating the world with negativity".

Not blinded by indifference or appearance. Watchers of horizons, capable of looking into the distance, and sherpas that indicate where to step now to keep moving forward. Close and joyful witnesses. Not sad, nor pessimistic, nor skeptical:

"Complaining skepticism is not proper to those who are familiar with the Word of God. He who proclaims the hope of Jesus is the bearer of joy and knows how to see further, because he knows how to look beyond evil and problems. At the same time, he can see close at hand, because he is attentive to his neighbor and his needs".

This is what the Lord asks of catechists today: to go to the essential. And for this, to renew and joyfully proclaim Jesus, with financial aid and effective love for others. Therefore, with Francis we ask him "to give us the strength to live and proclaim the commandment of love, overcoming the blindness of appearance and the sadness of the world. May he make us sensitive to the poor, who are not a appendix of the Gospel, but a central page, always open before us".