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Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
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Prayer Experience: The Eucharist in Scripture

Print the following Scripture passages on 1.5 x 11 strips of paper (one passage per strip): John 2:1-12 Matthew 15:32-39; 16:5-11 John 6:1-14 John 6:22-71 John 15:1-11 Give each students a Bible and a set of all five strips. Tell them that in each passage, Jesus offers some explanation for the Eucharist, which he will reveal, finally at the Last Supper. Ask the students to go to a place where they can be by themselves and reach each passage. On the back of each strip, have them write one sentence that expresses an insight they have about the Eucharist based on the particular passage. Play some instrumental background music. Allow at least twenty minutes for the students to read, reflect, and write. When the time is complete, gather the class together, preferably in a large circle. Go around and ask each student to share one or two insights on the Eucharist. Conclude with a dramatic reading of the Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-35) or the meal with fish (John 21:1-14).

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Video Assignment: Are the Gospels True

Brandon Vogt, author of What to Say and How to Say It: Discuss Your Catholic Faith with Clarity and Confidence, shares a forty-minute interview with Dr. Brant Pitre, a professor of Sacred Scripture at the Augustine Institute. The interview is labeled “Trusting in the Gospels.” You may wish to assign the entire interview and following questions to students as a homework assignment or play all or part of the interview in class and have the students respond to the questions as they are answered in the interview. Questions Who is Dr. Brant Pitre? How do we know the Gospels are true? What genre are the Gospels? When were they written? Who wrote the Gospels? Were the Gospels anonymous or did they have names attached to them? How do we know the information passed down through the decades is true? How did the information not get garbled like the “telephone game”? What is meant by eternal and internal evidence of reliability in the Gospels themselves? How do you respond to the charge that the Bible is merely myth and legend     Photo Credit: Dr. Brant Pitre

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The Blind See Meditation

Here is a simple Lenten prayer service. Have three Bibles (mark one at Matthew 91:27-30, the second at Mark 8:22-25, and the third at Luke 18:35:43). Choose three readers and hand each one of the Bibles. Gather in a chapel if possible. The classroom will also work as a prayer setting. Turn off the lights and darken the windows. Tell the students to close their eyes and sit quietly for a few minutes. Say: Imagine that you are blind. Try to put yourself back into the time of Jesus and think what it would have been like to have him cure you of your blindness. Keep your eyes closed while you listen to three Gospel accounts of Jesus curing the blind man. Call on the readers to read their passage one at a time. Allow some quiet time between each reading. After all the readings are finished say: Keep your eyes closed. Hear Jesus saying now in your heart, “What do you want me to do for you?” Answer him. What do you need from Jesus? Maybe you have a blindness that needs healing, a blindness that keeps you from believing and trusting in him, or from seeing your own goodness. Or from finding a way out of a problem you are entangled with. (Pause.) In the reading from Mark’s Gospel, the blind man was brought to Jesus by his friends. Maybe you, too, have friends or family members who need Jesus to touch them. Maybe people you love are being blinded by anger, jealousy, selfishness, drugs, or some other problem. Bring them to Jesus. Ask him to touch the blind spot in their lives and heal them. (Pause.) I will now walk around among you touch each of you with a healing touch of Jesus. When you have been touched, open your eyes while remaining quiet. (Walk among the group, prayerfully touching each person on the shoulder. As you do this play some meditative instrumental music.) After the song, say: In each of the Gospel stories, those who had been healed praised God for the new gift of sight. Project the words from Psalm 100 so that the class can see them or duplicate them on handout and pray them together: Sing to the Lord, all the world! Worship the Lord with joy;                 come before him with happy songs! Acknowledge that the Lord is God.                 He made us and we belong to him;                 we are his people, we are his flock Enter the Temple gates with thanksgiving;                 go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise him. ``               The Lord is good;                                 his love is eternal and his faithfulness lasts forever.

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Last Minute Christmas Activity

The infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke reveal much about the identity and mission of Jesus. Have the students look up and print the Scripture quotations to match the following descriptions. Then have them answer the question at the bottom. Have the students meet in pairs to discuss their responses after they have finished.   Jesus was born . . . …in an insignificant, back-water country (Mt 2:6) …to an oppressed people (Lk 2:1) …far from home (Lk 2:4) …in a barn (Lk 2:7) …to an unwed mother (Mt 1:18; Lk 1:34–35) …to an unmarried couple (Mt 1:18) …into poverty (Lk 2:24) …with a prophetic, but fairly common name (Lk 1:31) …as a threat to power (Mt 2:16) …with a death sentence hanging over him (Mt 2:13) …on the run as a fugitive and refugee (Mt 2:13–15) …as Messiah—Emmanuel—Son of God   What does this all tell you about Jesus?   In conclusion, set up a nativity scene in class and ask students to describe at least two things they known now about this scene that they after reading these Gospel passages.

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Questions and Answers on Jesus' Disciples

Here’s a short exercise your students might complete upon entering your classroom or at the end of a lesson. Have the students look up each passage and complete the following items related to Jesus’ disciples. Matthew 10:1–15. List the Apostles. Name three things Jesus instructed the Apostles to do. Luke 8:1–3. Name three women followers of Jesus. Luke 10:38–42. What was Martha complaining about? What did Jesus tell her? John 3:1–21. What did Nicodemus not understand about Jesus’ teaching? John 20:11–18. Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to hold onto him? Luke 19:1–10. Why was Zacchaeus despised by so many? What was the sign that he became a true disciple of Jesus? Answers The Apostles are Simon called Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot. Jesus instructs them to go to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” proclaim the kingdom of Heaven, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons, and take very little. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna She complained that her sister did not help her serve the guests. Jesus told her not to worry, but to sit and listen to him like her sister Mary. Nicodemus did not understand the meaning of being born again. Jesus had not yet ascended to his Father Zacchaeus was despised because he was a wealthy tax collector, but he proved his loyalty as a disciple by giving half of his possessions to the poor and promising not to steal from anyone.

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People Who Met and Recognized Jesus

During Jesus’ ministry many would-be friends and enemies did not recognize him or his mission as the Son of God. But several people did. Give the following list to the students and ask them to name some of the people who met and recognized Jesus. Have them write their answers before looking up the Scripture reference to check if they were right This person said, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” (Jn 4:29) This man said, “Who are you, sir?” After Jesus revealed himself to the man, he found out that he was blinded. (Acts 9:5–9) They traveled with Jesus for seven miles without knowing who he was, but came to realize who he was when they had dinner with him. (Lk 24:13–31) He said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16) This man thought Jesus was the Son of God because Jesus told him, “I saw you under the fig tree.” (Jn 1:48–50) They recognized Jesus as a king when they gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt 2:1–11) Some thought this man was the Messiah but he said, “One mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.” (Lk 3:16) This person said, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (Jn 20:28–29) When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him; in a loud voice he shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!” (Lk 8:28–30) Jesus refused to perform miracles for this person. In talking with him, Jesus quoted some passages from the Old Testament including, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” (Mt 4:1–11) Journal Assignment If you met Jesus face-to-face, what would you say to him?

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Holy Spirit in Scripture

Pentecost Sunday is approaching. Create a worksheet with the following Scripture passages. Pass out one worksheet and one Bible to each student. For each passage, have them write a sentence telling what it says about the Holy Spirit. When completed, discuss and check their answers.   Passages Genesis 1:1—2 Genesis 2:7 Exodus 19:16-19 Exodus 37:1-14 Luke 1:26-35 John 14:14-17 John 20:21-23 Answers Genesis 1:1–2:   The Hebrew word for “wind” is ruah. From the time of creation, the Spirit’s creative powers were active and present in the world.          Genesis 2:7:   The Spirit also gives life to humans. Exodus 19:16–19:   The Spirit—and God’s power—is revealed in thunder, lightning, and fire. Ezekiel 37:1–14:   In the well-known story of “dry bones,” it is the Spirit who brings life from death. Luke 1:26–35:   Jesus’ conception is brought about by the Holy Spirit who overshadows his mother, Mary. John 14:16–17:   At the Last Supper, Jesus tells his Apostles not to be afraid for he is sending them the Holy Spirit. John 20:21–23:   Just as the Spirit brought life to the first humans in Genesis, Jesus brings new spiritual life on the Apostles by breathing on them.

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Lessons on Pastoral Leadership from the Pastoral Letters

Prepare a lesson or part of a lesson that focuses on the theme of pastoral leadership and priesthood today, especially as it connects between teachings from the Pastoral Letters of the New Testament. Some qualities which make up a good priest are drawn from the Letter to Titus. Overview First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus are called “Pastoral Letters” because they were written by one pastor (shepherd) to two other pastors, Timothy and Titus. The differ from other New Testament letters—both those written by St. Paul and those attributed to him—in that they were addressed to individuals and give great advice on Church leadership. The Pastoral Letters assert that in order for one to be a priest or bishop, he must be a moral exemplar, other-centered, and be willing to undergo any kind of trial for the sake of the Gospel. First Timothy gives guidelines for those chosen to be bishops. Second Timothy describes the end of St. Paul’s ministry and is a reflection on his impending death. The Letter to Titus, the focus here, discusses the qualities necessary for being a good presbyter (priest). Lesson 1. Define pastor as “shepherd.” Ask the students to identify images from the Gospels of Christ acting as a shepherd. Ask: Why would “shepherd” be an appropriate name for a leader of the early Church? (Jesus used the metaphor of a shepherd and the flock to describe the relationship to the Apostles and the Apostles’ relationship to the faithful.) 2. Ask the students to write a brief reflection on a priest in their life who has had a positive influence on them. What qualities did that person possess that made him a good religious leader? Allow about five to seven minutes for writing. Then call on volunteers to share their reflections with the class. 3. Refer the students to Titus 1:5-9. Relate this description of presbyters to the student’s reflections and to an understanding of a priest’s mission and ministry today. Assignment There are nine references from the Letter of Titus in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Write them on the board. Ask the students to work individually or with a partner to look up the references from Titus and from the Catechism and explain how each supports a particular teaching about priesthood.   Teaching Reference from Titus Reference from the Catechism Eligibility for Holy Orders   Titus 1:5-9 CCC, 1577 Instructions for the appointment of presbyters Titus 1:5 CCC, 1590 Self-mastery and renewal   Titus 2:1-6 CCC, 2342 Temperance   Titus 2:12 CCC, 1809 The return of Christ   Titus 2:13   CCC, 449, 1041, 1130, 1404, 2276, 2818 Christ’s work of Redemption   Titus 2:14 CCC, 802   Baptism as a requirement for God’s kingdom   Titus 3:5 CCC, 1215   Hope Titus 3:6-7 CCC, 1817  

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