Graduation Day is a short break from an erstwhile non-stop learning discipline (also known as lifelong learning). Its other name is Commencement Exercise. It is an academic exercise of conferring diploma or proof of completion of some course of study. And there are other courses to complete as well. Hence, Graduation Day may also be referred to as Commendation Rite, a ceremony where the learner is commended for a task well done and recommended for the task that lies next in line.

 

Graduation becomes more than just a short break when it is turned into a learning break...when it is turned into a moment of reflection and the learner is gently guided to a reality encounter and begins to respond, “I could have done better...” or “I’ll do better next time!” This is what we mean by Methodist Cooperative Learning. We sincerely mean it when we bid you, “Come! Let us learn together! Let us make every space, a learning place...every encounter, a learning moment...and every person, a learning friend.” This is the vision of learning we received from the Lord. He shared with us a learning model in The Gospel written by John (A Sacred Pause by the Watering Hole...with Christ, John 4:1-42)

 

Course    : Discipleship 101

Teacher   : Jesus of Nazareth

Students  : The Disciples, a Samaritan Woman, the village people of Samaria

School    : Jacob’s Well

Term      : Lakbay Aral - Lunch break

 

From a Lakbay Aral trip, Jesus and his disciples took a short break “He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon. His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch. A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” 9 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.) Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water...” (John4:7-10)

 

You all know how the story ended, how the Disciples, the Samaritan Woman and all the Village People of Samaria believed in Jesus Christ, learned the true meaning of reconciliation with God and with neighbor, and how they all found the Way of Salvation in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

 

It still works. This three-point-outcome-oriented-lesson plan brought to perfect execution by the Great Teacher himself remains a most effective learning template for us today.

 

Turning every space into a learning place - Jesus once turned water into wine, he is able to turn Jacob’s well into a Cooperative Learning Station.

 

Turning every encounter into a learning moment – Jesus once turned a dessert retreat into a moment of intellectual debate with the devil, he is able to turn a short Lakbay Aral break into a precious learning moment for his disciples, then and now.

 

Turning every person into a learning friend – Jesus once turned the Samaritan woman into an instant friend...the Christian persecutor, Saul into an avid follower and apostle – Paul...He is able to turn a traditional profit-oriented learning system into a compassionate, friendly, and service-oriented cooperative learning system.

 

They are all plain to those who understand and open their hearts, and right to those who find knowledge and live by it. (Proverbs 8:9)

 

Happy Graduation Day! Let us take a sacred pause to thank the Lord for making us all fellow-learners of His way . . . fellow-seekers of His truth . . . and fellow-stewards of His vision of Christian perfection and life eternal.

 

Let us carry on with courage and confidence that He will walk us through the rest of the way . . . Mabuhay!

 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.