THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES & THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA

Transcription

1 HEART OF CATECHESIS THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES & THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 6 Weddings today are a big celebration sometimes lasting a whole day. In Old Testament times wedding celebrations (or feasts) lasted several days. Maybe that is why they ran out of wine! It would have been very embarrassing to the family hosting the feast to run out of wine. Since there were no grocery stores in those days, Mary asked Jesus to help. Calling of Peter and Andrew (Duccio Di Buoninsegna ) DID YOU KNOW? The word Apostle means one who is sent and a Disciple means one who is taught. The twelve men called by Jesus learned and accepted Jesus message and followed Him. They were then sent out to preach the Good News (Gospel). Therefore, The Twelve are both Disciples and Apostles. PARENTS & CATECHISTS READING REFLECTION & PRAYER Sacred Scripture JOHN 1:29-34 JOHN 1:35-51 JOHN 2:1-12 MATTHEW 19:4-6 John the Baptist s Testimony The Call of the Apostles The Wedding Feast at Cana Marriage Catechism of the Catholic Church # , 935, 1575 The Call of the Apostles # , 1639 Marriage #1641, 1648, 1657

2 Page 2 THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES & THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA Sacred Scripture STUDENTS READING REFLECTION & PRAYER Grades K-4 New Catholic Picture Bible pp The Wedding at Cana Grades 5-12 JOHN 1:29-34 John the Baptist s Testimony JOHN 1:35-51 The Call of the Apostles JOHN 2:1-11 The Wedding Feast at Cana MATTHEW 19:4-6 Marriage Catechism Grades K-2 First Communion Catechism pp. n/a Grades 3-6 Baltimore Catechism #1 pp. 56 Apostles pp Sacrament of Marriage Grades 7-12 Catechism of the Catholic Church # , 935, 1575 # , 1639 #1641, 1648, 1657 TEACHING STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES THEME: OBJECTIVES: JESUS BEGINS HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY BY CALLING, MIRACLES, AND GRACE Read and Discuss Who, How and Why Jesus called His Apostles Read and Discuss the Wedding Feast of Cana as Jesus first miracle and the elevation of MARRIAGE to a Sacrament Review the SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE with its MATTER, FORM, and EFFECT OPENING PRAYER: DECADE OF THE ROSARY- THE SECOND LUMINOUS MYSTERY THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA Marriage in Cana William Brassey Hole, 1905

3 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 6 Page 3 REVIEW DEAR CATECHISTS THESE ARE THE TERMS COVERED IN LESSONS 1-5. PLEASE REVIEW WITH YOUR STUDENTS. THE HOLY TRINITY SACRAMENT ETERNAL JOHN 1 THE INCARNATION GRACE CREATE 2 SAM 7 GOD THE FATHER MATTER DIVINITY ISAIAH 7 JESUS CHRIST FORM NATURE LUKE 1 & 2 THE VIRGIN MARY EFFECT PERSON LUKE 1 ORIGINAL SIN BAPTISM ANGEL MT 3 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SUBSTANCE MAN FOURTH COMMANDMENT MYSTERY FAITH HOPE REVIEW: YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO REVIEW PART OF THE CREED: FOR US AND FOR OUR HE CAME DOWN FROM AND BY THE WAS INCARNATE OF THE AND BECAME. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO REVIEW THE EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF JESUS DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS LESSONS BY ASKING THE STUDENTS TO PUT THESE EVENTS IN THE PROPER ORDER: Baptism of Jesus Annunciation Temptation in the Desert Birth of Jesus Finding of Jesus in the Temple

4 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 6 Page 4 OPENING QUESTION FOR THE CLASS WHAT DO YOU THINK JESUS DID AFTER HE WAS TEMPTED IN THE DESERT? REVIEW:. Bethany Beyond the Jordan Map made using Bible Mapper 4.3 READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: JOHN THE BAPTIST S TESTIMONY JOHN 1:29-34 WHEN AND WHERE DOES THIS STORY TAKE PLACE? This story took place when Jesus was returning from His 40 days in the desert. It is probably late winter or early spring of the year 28 AD. If you look on the map, down near the northern tip of the Dead Sea, right where the Jordan River flows into it, you can see where they were near the town called Bethany(where the black box is on the map) which is across the Jordan [be careful there are two Bethanys!...one near Jerusalem]. WHAT DOES JOHN SAY TO THE CROWD WHEN HE SEES JESUS? [v. 29] Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world! John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah, and has come to be a sacrificial Victim to save us from our sins. [See also, IS 53:7 and JER 11:19]. WHERE ELSE DO WE HEAR THESE WORDS OURSELVES? At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, just before we go up to receive Holy Communion, the Priest holds up the Host and the Chalice which have become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and he commands us to Behold the Lamb of God, Behold Him who takes away the sins of the world [to look at] Jesus, Who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

5 Page 5 THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES & THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES JOHN 1:35-51 WHICH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST S FOLLOWERS BECAME JESUS FIRST DISCIPLES? In this story we see Andrew and John following Jesus and being called by Him. When John wrote his Gospel [which we are reading right now] he is telling the story about the time he spent with Jesus. Instead of saying, I did this, or John did that, John, when he is referring to himself writes of another disciple, or the disciple who Jesus loved. WHAT DOES DISCIPLE MEAN? Disciple means, one who is taught. It is another word for student or follower. In the Gospels Jesus eventually gathers about 70 disciples who follow Him and learn from Him. MESSIAH MEANS ANOINTED. WHAT IS ANOTHER WORD FOR MESSIAH? Messiah is the Hebrew word for a man who is anointed as king. In Jesus time people often spoke and wrote several different languages [as people today may speak both English and Spanish]. When the Gospels were written, they were written in Greek and the Greek word for Messiah is CHRIST. WHY ARE JESUS WORDS, COME AND SEE IMPORTANT FOR US? [v. 39] Jesus was calling Andrew and John to follow Him and to get to know Him. He calls us to try to follow Him and stay close to Him as well. Although we cannot actually walk and talk with Jesus in the same way that people in His own time could, we can be even closer to Him when we receive Him in Holy Communion. WHY DOES JESUS CHANGE SIMON S NAME? In the Bible, God frequently changes someone s name to show that their mission and relationship with Him has changed. So Abram was renamed, Abraham, [which means Father of Nations ] and Jacob was renamed, Israel, [which means, he wrestled with God. ] Simon s name was changed to Cephas or Peter, [which means Rock ]. WHY WOULD JESUS CALL SIMON ROCK? AND SO I SAY TO YOU, YOU ARE PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH. [Matthew 16:18]. One day Jesus would say these words to Simon [MT 16] and so would make Simon the rock or foundation and Supreme Head of His Church on earth. IS NATHANIEL IMPRESSED WHEN HE IS FIRST TOLD ABOUT JESUS? No. He makes a disrespectful remark about Jesus hometown of Nazareth. HOW DOES JESUS WIN OVER NATHANIEL? As God and Man, Jesus knows all things even people s thoughts. Perhaps at one point in the past, Nathaniel, sitting under a fig tree, was thinking or praying deeply about something very important to him. When Jesus says, I SAW YOU UNDER THE FIG TREE Nathaniel realizes that somehow Jesus knew his very thoughts and that is why Nathaniel calls Jesus, the Son of God the King of Israel. WHEN JESUS SAYS AMEN, AMEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN? [v. 51] The Hebrew word, Amen means, I believe, or Yes, it is true! When Jesus puts two Amens together, He is solemnly proclaiming, under oath, that something is very important and undoubtedly true. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN JESUS SAYS THAT THEY SHALL SEE, THE SKY OPENED AND THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON THE SON OF MAN? [v. 51] Jacob who God later renamed Israel was traveling to Haran when he had a dream of a stairway with angels of heaven going up and down on it [GEN 28:10-15]. Jesus is proclaiming that He is the fulfillment of that dream/prophecy the angels serve and honor Him and He is to be the stairway that we follow to get to heaven.

6 Page 6 THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES & THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA JOHN 2:1-12 WHERE IS CANA? In the territory of Galilee not far from Nazareth [locate it on the map on page 4]. HOW MANY DISCIPLES DID JESUS HAVE AT THIS TIME? Probably 5 Peter, Andrew, John, Philip, and Nathaniel. WHY IS THE VIRGIN MARY IMPORTANT? THE VIRGIN MARY is THE MOTHER OF JESUS CHRIST. SHE WAS IMMACULATELY CONCEIVED, IS FOR- EVER FULL OF GRACE, AND HELPS US CONSTANTLY BY HER PRAYERS. It is also important to remember the citation for this chapter JOHN 2 when we are attempting to understand and explain Mary s role interceding for us by her prayers. WHAT DID MARY NOTICE AT THE WEDDING, AND WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT? Mary noticed that they were out of wine. A wedding feast was the most important time in a young couple s life and the party ordinarily went on for days. It would have been a terrible embarrassment and disgrace if a couple should run out of wine. It would also be a sign that they might be unable to have any children. DOES MARY TELL JESUS WHAT TO DO? No. Mary merely says to Jesus, They have no wine. DOES JESUS WANT TO WORK A MIRACLE AT THIS TIME? It seems like He does not. He says, WOMAN, HOW DOES THIS CONCERN OF YOURS AFFECT ME? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME. [v. 4] WHAT DO THESE WORDS OF JESUS MEAN? They sound a bit disrespectful, but they are not. When Jesus calls Mary Woman, this reminds us of the Woman mentioned in the prophecy in Genesis 3:15, whose Child would crush the head of the serpent [the devil]. We may also see a connection between this prophecy and the Woman in Revelation 12:1-6 who appears in the heavens and who escapes the attack of the serpent/dragon. When Jesus says, MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME, it does seem to imply that He is not inclined to work a miracle at that time. DOES MARY COMMAND JESUS TO OBEY HER? No. She does not need to. Mary is a woman of few words. She knows that her Son will consider her wishes and do what is right. She merely turns to the waiters and says, Do whatever He tells you. These are the last words of Mary recorded in the Bible. It is good advice for us too; if we do what Jesus tells us, we will be His faithful followers and holy saints.

7 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 6 Page 7 WHY WERE THERE BIG JARS OF WATER THERE? In those days people did not have sinks or running water inside. The Jews were very careful about keeping themselves clean and washing their hands. There would have been many people at the wedding, and they would have been washing their hands frequently. WHAT HAPPENED? Jesus told the waiters to fill the jars to the brim. By His power as God, Jesus caused 6 huge jars of water to become gallons of very rich and pure wine. HOW DID JESUS DISCIPLES REACT TO HIS FIRST MIRACLE? They believed in Him. Jesus highly values our Faith. He wants us to believe that He is our Savior, our Lord, and our God. WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE IN JESUS LIFE? Perhaps the most important lesson we learn, aside from the fact that Jesus could work a miracle, is that He listens to Mary when she asks Him for something. This story helps us more deeply to understand why it is important to ask Mary to intercede [or to pray for] us. It also shows that by Jesus very presence at the marriage ceremony and His words in MT 19 [our Scripture Citation with which we reference the Sacrament of Marriage]. WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE? MARRIAGE COVENANT THE SACRAMENT IN WHICH A MAN AND A WOMAN GIVE THEMSELVES TO EACH OTHER IN A COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP AND BECOME HUSBAND AND WIFE A LOVING, LASTING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONS The MATTER for marriage is the man and woman who are getting married. The FORM for marriage is the vows they make to each other before those gathered. The EFFECT of marriage is the two become one in the sight of God. They receive the graces they need to love each other and to be faithful to each other and to raise a family. On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign - at his mother's request - during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus' presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ's presence. CCC #1613

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