The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I January 17, 2012 - Level 1, Issue 08 |
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| Dear CGS Level I Parent, |  This week and again in early February, Level I children will listen to and consider parables about the Kingdom of God. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has repeatedly observed that even the youngest children can internalize some of our deepest beliefs by seemingly very simple words and simple movements. The parables of the Kingdom of God in Level I may only be one or two sentences long and use concrete, observable objects. Yet, their hidden meaning is rich and inexhaustible. In fact, CGS children will receive certain parables, such as the Mustard Seed or the Pearl of Great Price, again and again throughout all three levels. They will discover new perspectives each time. It is an important precept of CGS that the catechist does not explain the parable. It is the joy and privilege of the child to discover what meaning is speaking to him each time the story is proclaimed. In the next session following this week (Jan31/Feb2/5), Level I will receive presentations related to wine and water as used in the mass. These presentations relate to the category of presentations on "gestures of the mass." Gestures are actions that convey meaning. The gestures of the mass are very simple movements which hold or convey very deep meaning. In that sense, gestures and parables both use the simple or ordinary to convey the rich and mysterious. We encourage parents to read the Kingdom parables and to take notice of the various gestures used in the mass. As you come into deeper knowledge and understanding, you may naturally find connections in your everyday life - perhaps family activities or stories read at bed time or whatever - that gently help the parables and gestures remain in your child's daily life. Even the simplest comment from you, such as, "It's kind of like the mustard seed," could be that little bit of nurture that nudges the seed of faith into better soil or gives it just the right amount of water when it's thirsting.
Remember to please notify Kate Lynch in advance if your child will be absent. This is a courtesy to your catechist for their day's planning and a means of ensuring safety within our program. Kate's e-mail address is kolynchdre@gmail.com.
Peace,
Lina Hilko (editor)
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Parable of the Mustard Seed
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When Jesus lived on earth - when he walked and talked and breathed just like you and me - people would ask him all the time to tell them about the Kingdom of God. What is it like? And he would answer by telling them a parable. Parables are stories that use ordinary things to explain other things. One time, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in the field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches." (Matthew 13:31)
The children listen to these words and are then each given a mustard seed on their finger. They aren't like the seeds sold in the spice section of the grocery store. These mustard seeds are the size of a piece of ground pepper - unbelievably small! The children are shown a picture of a mustard tree in Israel, fully grown. It is at least 12 feet tall! How can such a small seed grow into something SO big? What makes this happen? What is inside the seed? We wonder.
This parable appeals specially to Level I children because they can relate to being very small in a big world. And yet they know that they are growing and changing. Level I children are fascinated by the transformation of the very small into the very big.
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Parable of the Precious Pearl
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One time, Jesus described God's Kingdom like this:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." (Matthew 13:45-46)
Young children tend to focus on the abundant joy of finding something so very precious. What aspect of the Kingdom is God revealing to you as you read today?
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Preparation of Cruets and Chalice
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The cruets are the small pitchers that hold wine and water which are used during the preparation of the gifts at mass. One important Level I presentation and work is on the mingling of the water and the wine. In this action, we contemplate our union with Jesus who united himself to us, a sentiment expressed by the words of the priest: "By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity."
In the three-year cycle of Level I, we precede the presentation on the mingling of water and wine with a presentation on the preparation of the cruets. The child learns and practices how to carefully pour wine into the wine cruet and water into the water cruet. Just imagine the concentration and care that such an action requires of the small child. As adults we forget the amount of self-control needed. Certainly, when it is time to pour just the smallest drop of water into the chalice of wine, that action will require even more perfection of pouring skills.
Ideally, the catechist will give the appropriate presentation (either preparation of cruets or preparation of chalice) to small subgroups of children based on what each has already seen and worked with, if anything.
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Beans and Rice?
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Perhaps at some point you casually browsed the materials in Level I Atrium and noticed beans and rice in bowls. They are part of the Atrium's "practical life works." This area includes spooning or pouring beans or rice, folding napkins, arranging flowers in a vase, watering and pruning a plant, polishing a brass bell or chalice, and sweeping a mess (of beans or rice, most likely).
Pouring dry goods provides the basis for perfecting the skill of pouring. After this, children can use their newly-perfected pouring skills to meditate on the preparation of the cruets of wine and water before mass. Later, the child applies more defined pouring skills to meditate on the mingling of water with wine during the preparation of the chalice. Practical life works are very useful to young children as they seek to find their place in a family and in a community.
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Feed My Sheep
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Parents can also provide for practical life works that connect to Atrium or to the mass or to a deepening relationship with God. There are many ideas, but next is one that is an actual, current parish need.
Do you attend 9AM mass and enjoy fellowship and refreshments afterward in the Parish Center? Did you know that parishioners host that fellowship each Sunday? Please consider whether hosting is a practical life work which your family can offer to the parish.
This hosting is an important component of living St. Teresa's parish vision to be a welcoming community. Hosting also offers practice with very useful life skills for children and, happily, life skills that the young ones even actually enjoy. For example, one hosting responsibility is washing coffee mugs. If a parent does the soapy washing in the first sink, then a child can rinse in the second sink (just dunk a couple times and place in dish drainer). Also, although it is not required, many host families choose to bake some special treats to add to those provided by the parish. Children love to bake cookies, and baking provides the chance to practice pouring skills. Consider buying just a quart of milk or a small bottle of vegetable oil on the days you are going to bake with your child so they can effectively help pour and measure.
If you would like to help host fellowship, go to VolunteerSpot, the online tool we are now using to schedule volunteers through June. Click on this link: http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/6323456343218720109
Be sure to click the big red "Confirm" button after you pick your Sunday(s). That triggers your confirmation e-mail. And of course this isn't the only opportunity that combines parish stewardship with practical life skills. Now that you know about practical life works, you can look out for new ideas.
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Feel free to comment on this information to Lina Hilko, LHilko@aol.com, the editor and/or Kate Lynch, kolynchdre@gmail.com, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education. Thanks!
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