As we journey through this year of catechesis on our Via Fidelis pilgrimage, we have discussed many aspects of how we communicate the faith to others. Not too long ago, we talked about the catechumenal process (sometimes referred to as OCIA), that is, the process by which one becomes a Christian. We looked at how this process mirrors the trajectory of the growing intimacy of human relationships, especially like falling in love.

It is no accident that this is how we think of sharing the faith. After all, it speaks to our natural inclinations as human beings that we grow into our relationships. God created humans this way, and he has responded accordingly throughout history.

Those engaged in catechesis hear the phrase “catechumenal model,” and it’s often thrown around without much elaboration. This concept means that all our catechetical endeavors are envisioned through the lens of the catechumenate. In other words, it is our point of reference for all Christian formation.

While there are many facets of this image, one of the most salient is that it implies a process. Catechesis, the formation of disciples, takes place gradually and in stages, leading to ever-deepening intimacy with God.

If we look at salvation history, we see that this is how God’s revelation unfolds. God reveals himself from the beginning through the act of creating, particularly by creating humans in the divine image and likeness. If we continue to walk through salvation history as presented in Scripture, we see God’s gradual self-revelation takes place over time: from the covenant with Noah to the covenant with Abraham and his descendants, a particular people promised a particular land.

Abraham’s descendants, through his grandson Jacob (Israel), gradually experience the unfolding of God’s revelatory love. This people eventually finds itself enslaved in Egypt and, through Moses, experiences the freedom that God’s love gives. As it ventures toward the promised land, God reveals himself in the Law, giving a fuller picture of the dedication that covenantal love entails.

This progressive unveiling of God, and deepening relationship with him, moves forward as this people enters, conquers and settles the promised land. A kingdom is established under Saul and then David, to whom God promises an unending dynasty. Over time, as the nation divided into two kingdoms that were both conquered by other nations (Assyria and Babylon), the fulfillment of God’s promise seems to fade from the realm of possibility.

Yet, this hope is found again — albeit in a new, unexpected, more complete way — in Christ.

So, it is through the ebb and flow of life and through the successes and failures of his people that different aspects of God and his love are unveiled as time goes on. His creativity and dominion, goodness and justice, mercy and steadfastness are all made plain in the successive events of salvation history. 

This leads to the fullness of revelation when God himself takes on human nature in Christ Jesus and reveals the Divine in a way that is accessible to us and that we can understand. By taking on our human nature, God the Son also reveals the deepest truths about humanity to us.

Revelation itself is a process, and a gradual unfolding is God’s way of teaching us. It is the Divine Pedagogy (pedagogy is the art, science and practice of teaching). God reveals truth in everyday life and in a long-term relationship with his people.

Divine Pedagogy is also the logic behind the catechumenate and, by extension, all forms of catechesis and formation. It is by walking alongside others over an extended period, sharing features of God’s love in dialogue with the reality of life, that the catechist communicates the fullness of the faith. At its heart is a revealed relationship.

So, as we attend to our own formation during this Year of Catechesis and strive to form others as disciples, we must keep in mind that catechesis is a process because conversion is a process. And conversion is a process because that is how God reveals himself throughout salvation history, in our lives and in the present moment.