A New School Year Begins

Did I tell you I teach middle school?

The Parable of the Classroom

Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and, gathering them around him, he taught them, saying: 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven 
Blessed are the meek 
Blessed are they that mourn 
Blessed are the merciful 
Blessed are they that thirst for justice when persecuted 
Blessed are you when you suffer 
Be glad and rejoice for your reward is great in heaven 

Then Simon Peter said, "Are we supposed to know this?"
And Andrew said, "Do we have to write this down?"
And James said, "Do we have to turn this in?"
And Phillip said, "Will we have a test on this?"
Bartholomew said. "What came after poor?"
And John said, "The other disciples didn't have to learn this!"
Mark said, "Don't take it off the overhead yet."

And Judas said “What does this have to do with real life?
And Matthew went to the bathroom. 

One of the Pharisees who was present asked to see Jesus' lesson plan and inquired of Jesus, "Where are your anticipatory set and your objectives in the cognitive domain?" 

And Jesus wept.