The Gatekeeper
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level III 
January 31, 2012 - Level 3, Issue 9
In This Issue
The Miracles
Food for (Parental) Thought
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Dear CGS Level III Parent,  
The Good Shepherd

This week, Level III begins a two-week investigation of miracles of Jesus. The presentation of miracles was selected now because the Gospel readings for the next few Sundays (and actually starting last Sunday) recount miracles.  Who knows -- maybe you'll find ways to attune your child's ears to the Gospel messages at mass.  But more importantly, the best way to connect with your Level III child is to, yourself, engage in similar meditations on how the miracle stories help you glimpse the Kingdom of God.  This opens the door for natural continued conversations whenever or however they may arise.

 

A couple weeks back, we heard at mass how Jesus began his public ministry, saying, "This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." We pray all the time, "Our Father ... Your Kingdom come!" What is this Kingdom that is at hand and that, at the same time, is to come? Since we are praying for it, it's worth having a glimpse of what it is so we recognize it.

 

Peace,

   Lina Hilko, Editor

The Miracles

Level III children will work with materials to help them learn about and reflect on certain miracles performed by Jesus.  Miracles are not presented generally to children until Level III because the risk exists for younger children to receive such accounts as magic.  The presentation in Level III is very rich and multi-faceted because Level III children are ready to penetrate more deeply into the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

 

When Jesus lived on Earth - when he walked and talked and breathed just like you and me - people often asked him about the Kingdom of God.  What is it like?  Jesus spoke to people about the Kingdom of God using parables.  And children in all Levels have heard this introduction time and again and have listened to and meditated on various parables. CGS children are intimately familiar with the miniscule mustard seed and the ever-so-precious pearl, with the wise and foolish bridesmaids, with wedding banquets and wheat growing in fields. In Level III, we introduce a new way to wonder what the Kingdom is like.

Jesus performed certain acts which allowed people then, and allow us today, to see what the kingdom is like and will be like at the parousia, the time when God will be all in all.  We call these acts "miracles."

The method of presenting miracles to Level III children places these acts firmly within the entire Plan of God.  Not only does the child read the act from Scripture and contemplate the act performed by Jesus in that time and that setting, but the work then helps the child
  1. connect back to how the miracle relates to the words of prophets when they described the fulfillment of God's plan;
  2. contemplate how the miracle still works in and around us today through liturgy and the sacraments; and
  3. envision qualities of parousia as glimpsed through the work of the miracle.
Before my formal CGS Level III training, it never occurred to me, and no one ever suggested to me, to think of the miracles as providing a glimpse of parousia, the fulfillment of God's plan.  The Atrium material has truly changed how I perceive and think about the miracles. Perhaps you might try this perspective going forward as well.  Please read "Food for (Parental) Thought" below for a chance to continue your meditation.

Food for (Parental) Thought

Four miracles are included in the formal Atrium materials: restoration of life to the dead son of a widow; sight to a blind man; feeding of the five thousand; and healing of a paralyzed man. This last one, actually, will be the Gospel at mass on February 19th. Of course, we know there are many other miracles. We can apply the thought process from the Atrium material whenever we listen to any miracle story.

 

Let's take the healing of the paralytic as an example. You can read the story in Mark 2:1-12. The paralytic was carried by four men, and when they couldn't reach Jesus through the door of the house, they made a hole in the roof and handed down the paralytic. The account ends with these words:

 

They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

 

I'm reminded of a bumper sticker I see from time to time: "Expect a miracle." While I conceptually understand what it's getting at, I'm not sure the saying does miracles full justice. "Expect a miracle" sounds ordinary, commonplace, every day. But the true response should be to be astounded, amazed. How can this be?! Perhaps we adults have heard these stories lots of times, and they've become "expected." It's good to listen now with a fresh, new mind. Just imagine the moment, each character, all their feelings. Imagine you are there.

 

What just happened? Is it just the paralytic's body that has been healed? How does Jesus heal him? His words are, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Why does Jesus say this? Does it give us insight into what all is healed? Or even who all is healed?

 

How could this healing happen? Have the prophets said something about this?  We read in Isaiah 35:5-6:

 

Then the eyes of the blind shall see, and the ears of the deaf be opened;

Then the lame shall leap like a stag, and the mute tongue sing for joy.

 

When is this "then?"  The prophet is speaking of the day that all history is striving toward:  the parousia.  "Then" there will be no more illness, or death, or suffering. Isaiah 35 completes with these words:

 

Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
 

The paralytic lived in a society which looked upon disease and disability as a sign of sinfulness, unworthiness. This healing truly opened up a completely new path for him - the opportunity to live life to the full with joy and gladness.

 
And what about us today? Are there things which keep us from living life to the full? Can we today experience Jesus' ability to release us from that which binds us or paralyzes us, that which keeps us from living life to the full? How? One way Jesus heals us is through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

Have you ever experienced a moment in which you were freed by God's gift of grace? Were you "astounded?" Was your response to glorify God? Is this an experience for which you pray?

 

We pray all the time, "Our Father ... Your Kingdom come!" What do those words mean to you now, in light of this miracle story?
 
Please feel free to contact Kate Lynch, St. Teresa's Director of Religious Education ([email protected]), or Lina Hilko, newsletter editor ([email protected]), if you have questions or comments about this information.