To speak of educating in faith and simplicity in today’s Mexico means pausing to look at reality with sincere and open eyes. Around us, contrasts abound: on one side, technological advances, instant communication, and a culture that urges us to “have more” to feel worthy; on the other, a deep social inequality, a climate of violence that wounds entire families, and a pervasive mistrust in daily life. Many young people grow up surrounded by messages telling them that their worth depends on standing out, achieving, or accumulating, according to the standards of a competitive and consumerist world.
Amid this reality, simplicity seems to be a forgotten value. A simple life is often mistaken for limitation, when in truth it is a path of freedom and authenticity. And faith, which for some has been confined to the private sphere, still carries the power to reveal that another way of living is possible. To educate in faith and simplicity means teaching others to see life anew: to discover that true greatness is found in small things, that what is most precious doesn’t always shine at first glance, and that everyday gestures can transform an entire environment.
Jesus demonstrated this throughout his public life. He did not seek prestige or surround himself with the elite of his time. His path was among the marginalized, sharing meals with the excluded, touching the sick, listening to the unheard. The Gospels do not recount political achievements or military exploits, but rather simple gestures revealing profound love: breaking bread, washing the feet of his disciples, stopping for those who suffered in silence. Educating in faith, following his example, means learning to recognize in every humble gesture a place where God is present.
This learning is not transmitted by words alone. One educates in faith and simplicity through experience, witness, and coherence of life. Young people quickly perceive the difference between an empty speech and an authentic act. That is why, when they are given opportunities for social service, their outlook changes. They discover that life is not about competing or consuming, but about expanding when shared.
I recall a particular experience that deeply marked a group of high school students during a day of service. The plan was to visit a community kitchen on the outskirts of the city. They had organized a collection of food, clothing, and toys. Their initial intention was “to go help” those who had less. Yet what happened that day was far deeper than a simple act of giving.
Upon arrival, they were welcomed by a group of women who, with effort and dedication, sustain the kitchen every day to feed children, the elderly, and entire families. The students began serving food enthusiastically, though with some timidity. Gradually, the atmosphere changed: through laughter and games with the children, simple conversations with the mothers, and the gratitude of the elderly, the students experienced a different kind of joy, a satisfaction that came not from what they gave, but from what they received.
At the end of the day, during a short reflection circle, one young man shared honestly: “I thought I was coming to help, but I’m leaving with my heart full. Today I understood that true wealth is not in what you have, but in what you share. They taught me to live simply and to value what I have.” His words perfectly captured the experience: in the simplicity of a shared meal, in the closeness of a smile, in gratitude expressed without words, something greater was present—something transforming from within.
Such experiences educate in faith in a profound way. For faith is not merely knowledge of doctrines or memorized prayers; it is an encounter with God’s love made flesh in everyday life. And simplicity is the fertile soil where that love takes root. When a young person discovers that their time, joy, and small gestures can bring hope to others, they are learning more than any book could teach.
That is why educating today in faith and simplicity is to sow hope. It means forming people capable of recognizing God in small things and understanding that life’s value lies not in what is accumulated, but in what is given. It is to teach that coherence, solidarity, and simplicity are not outdated virtues but the very heart of an authentic Christian life.
We may not be able to change all structures of injustice overnight. But we can —and must— begin with the small gestures within our reach: lending a hand to a suffering neighbor, listening to someone who feels alone, sharing with those in need, living each day with gratitude. There lies the strength of the Gospel, the transformative power of education in faith and simplicity.
By Carlos Enrique Castro Medina
Province of Ecuador–Mexico