Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE Dismissal Session The Dismissal Session is for catechumens only who are dismissed from worship before the Creed (RCIA #75.3). The Dismissal Session group may gather for the Catechetical Session at another time during the week. Children s RCIA Resource CATECHIST S NOTES Catechetical Session When the Dismissal Session is immediately followed by the Catechetical Session, parents or other sponsors join the group after Eucharist. Baptized children preparing for confirmation and Eucharist may also join in the Catechetical Session (RCIA #254; Appendix III, #19). Select the session options that fit your time frame. NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY Sunday s readings Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b Matthew 22:15-21 Doctrine correlations There is a distinction between serving God and serving the political community, in that, when their demands are contrary, we must obey God rather than man (CCC #2242). Citizens have a duty to contribute to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom, and service of the common good requires citizens to fulfill their role in the life of the political community (CCC #2239). RCIA team notes Catechumens are already joined to the church and in many cases are already living a life of faith, hope, and charity (Ad gentes #14). Help the children become aware of their acts of faith, hope, and charity. By Janet Miller. Copyright 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.
CATECHIST S NOTES GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION Items to prepare check-in sheet and nametag materials poster paper or white board, erasers, and erasable markers green cloth on table or counter space for prayer, percussion instrument Bibles, one set to Matthew 22:15 assorted coins, candle in a heat-proof holder, matches prepared cards scratch paper, pencils Sharing Faith questions, copies of Faith at Home pieces of recycled manila folders, recycled scratch paper, pencils, rulers, and crayons Gathering Prayer Ritual Set a prayer focal point by placing a Bible and candle on a green cloth. Scatter domestic and foreign coins. On separate cards numbered in order, print the three sentences of the prayer. Plan to give the cards to volunteers to prepare. Singing option Use music from your faith community resources. The suggestion is a guide. Bring songbooks and music in a player. Building Community Print the sentences, leaving a blank space, and names on separate cards. Keep each pair together. After catechumens arrive, determine the number of pairs needed and shuffle. For more than 18 catechumens repeat as needed. Snack option Send a reminder to the sponsor providing the snack this week. Engaging the Word Gather recycled paper with a blank side and pencils. Sharing Faith groups Put the Scripture citation with the questions on cards for group leaders. Crossing the Ages Activity option: Common Good Designs Cut recycled manila folders into 3" x 6" and 2½" x 3" pieces. Gather recycled scratch paper, pencils, rulers, and crayons. Friends on the Way - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 2
DISMISSAL SESSION GATHERING (15 MINUTES) Catechumens, having heard the Sunday proclamation of the Word, are dismissed from the Mass. Greet the catechumens as they arrive. Have them check in and put on nametags. For anyone new provide nametag materials. Give prayer cards to volunteers to prepare. GATHERING PRAYER RITUAL Chime a percussion instrument as a call to prayer. All stand around the prayer focal point. (+) Light the candle. Have three prepared readers lead the Act of Faith, Hope, and Love. Invite everyone to respond Amen after each sentence. O my God, we firmly believe that you are the only God, creator of heaven and earth, infinitely great and good. (Amen.) O my God, we hope in your gracious promise to give us every blessing, through Jesus Christ, whose teachings we follow. (Amen.) O my God, we love you and all things of your creation, including all people. (Amen.) Invite everyone when you lift a hand to respond, Glory and honor to God. Prayerfully say the following verses inspired by Psalm 96, calling for the response by lifting a hand. Tell God s glory among the nations. Tell all people about God s wondrous deeds. (response) God is awesome. Praise God! (response) Families of every nation, Bring gifts and give glory to God. (response) Song Suggestion: Now from Give Your Gifts, Melody Book, GIA Publications, Inc. Extinguish the candle flame. Friends on the Way - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 3
CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER Invite everyone to sit in a circle. Introduce anyone new. Invite sharing about their experiences with the Faith at Home pages from the previous session. BUILDING COMMUNITY Biblical People: Use sentence and name cards prepared from the following suggestions. God anointed (Cyrus) to subdue the nations. God s servant, (Jacob), was the chosen one. The church of the (Thessalonians) received a letter. Paul, Silvanus, and (Timothy) wrote a letter. (Paul), Silvanus, and Timothy wrote a letter. Paul, (Silvanus), and Timothy wrote a letter. The (Pharisees) sent disciples to trap Jesus. The (Herodians), followers of Herod, joined the plot. The image of (Caesar) was on the coin. Open separate Bibles to Isaiah 45, 1 Thessalonians 1, and Matthew 22:15. Explain: Each of you will receive a card. Some of you will have a name. Some of you will have a sentence with a blank space. Move around the room and find a partner that makes the sentence accurate. If you need help, look at the open Bibles. Using one card per catechumen, randomly distribute the sentence cards to some and matching name cards to others. If there is an uneven number of members, take a card. After partners find each other, everyone stands in a circle. The pairs read the sentence aloud filling in the blank. RECALLING THE WORD (10 MINUTES) Have everyone sit with Bibles in a circle. Use the following as a guide. For information, refer to Insight for the Catechist and the reflections on the Faith at Home page. If needed, refer to the community building activity to help the catechumens with word meanings. Encourage all responses without concern for right or wrong answers. Help everyone find Isaiah 45:1-6. I wonder, why did God anoint King Cyrus, who did not even know the Israelite religion? I wonder, why did God choose you to learn about becoming anointed? Have the catechumens find 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5. I wonder, why did Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy write to the Thessalonians? I wonder, what are your works of faith? I wonder, what are your labors of love? I wonder, what hopes in Jesus Christ do you have? Friends on the Way - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 4
Have everyone find Matthew 22:15-21. What do you notice in this parable? What things belong to God? What kinds of things do we have in our community and in our country because people pay taxes? In what ways do we pay back God? Affirm the members comments. Summarize: The one true God calls each person by name. God works through people, even those who seem to have no faith. We experience peace when we have faith, love, and hope and return what belongs to God. PRAYING INTERCESSIONS (5 MINUTES) God calls us by name and cares, so we pray for ourselves and others. When I lift my hand please respond, God, our only hope, hear our prayer. May all who you call by name respond to you, O God. (Lift a hand for the response.) Thank you for choosing us and all believers to have faith, love, and hope. (Lift a hand for the response.) May we join with others and repay what belongs to you, one true God. (Lift a hand for the response.) Invite the members to contribute intercessions. Conclude: O God, you call us and grace us. Hear the prayers we have spoken and those we hold in our hearts. May your Holy Spirit guide us, united as one in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. All: Amen. Option: Break for a snack or social time. If the group disperses now and meets for catechesis later in the week, collect nametags. Friends on the Way - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 5
CATECHETICAL SESSION The Catechetical Session follows the Dismissal Session either immediately or at another time during the week. The catechetical session is designed for catechumens and parents or sponsors to grow in faith together. The status of the catechumens never is to be confused with that of baptized children preparing for confirmation or Eucharist, who may join in this catechesis as supportive companions (RCIA, Appendix III, #19). GATHERING FOR CATECHESIS (5 MINUTES) Welcome the catechumens, parents, sponsors, and any baptized children arriving from liturgy. If this Catechetical Session is not following the Dismissal Session, allow an additional ten minutes and begin with the Gathering segment in the Dismissal Session. Have those arriving check in and put on nametags. PRAYING Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Use the ( ) prayer from the Gathering Prayer Ritual in the Dismissal Session, another prayer, or sing a gathering song from liturgy. ENGAGING THE WORD Briefly review: (15 MINUTES) The Pharisees were religious people who believed in following a strict set of rules that included how and what people were to eat and activities they could not do on days of worship called the Sabbath. Jesus constantly criticized the Pharisees because they thought of themselves as better than other people. They said they believed in God but did not show love and mercy. The disciples of the Pharisees were young people who wanted to learn all of the rules so they could be one of the Pharisees. The Herodians were followers of the King Herod. They did not care so much about following ancient Law. They were more interested in pleasing the Romans to keep their man in power. Even though they were very different from the Pharisees, they also wanted to get rid of Jesus because they thought his new way of believing would cause trouble with the Romans. Distribute Bibles, scratch paper, and pencils. Assign groups of seven. (If there are only a few participants, do this as a whole group activity.) Assign roles (girls play any of the parts) for the Pharisees, the disciples, the Herodians, and Jesus. Each group develops dialogues for the TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b Matthew 22:15-21 Insight for the Catechist Politics causes strange alliances. The Pharisees, who strictly follow the Law, call on the Herodians, who compromise to please the Romans. In a conspiracy to trap Jesus, the Pharisees send youth as a type of initiation to challenge Jesus. If they get Jesus to reject paying taxes, the Herodians will quickly tell the Romans, and Jesus will be arrested as a revolutionary. If Jesus says the taxes should be paid, he will lose his credibility as a rabbi. The Pharisees figure that Jesus is finished. The Pharisees followers, however, are no match for Jesus who responds to their question with a question. Jesus calls them what they are, hypocrites! They break Mosaic Law by carrying a graven image of the emperor. The challenge comes back to the Pharisees, Deliver to God the mercy that belongs to God. By Janet Miller. Photo courtesy of Andres Rueda, via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Copyright 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. 6
Pharisees teaching their young followers about Jesus and the Pharisees plotting with the Herodians to get rid of Jesus. Allow eight minutes for everyone to prepare skits based on Matthew 22:15-21. Assist as needed. Then, invite groups to enact their skits. SHARING FAITH (15 MINUTES) Form groups of four to six mixed-age participants with Bibles. (If there are only a few participants, lead the discussion as a whole group.) Print the questions on large paper or marker board, or distribute questions on cards for an adult to lead. Circulate to offer support as needed. CONVERSING ABOUT MATTHEW 22:15-21 What did you discover during the skit enactments? Tax money helps the common good, so what is the common good? In what ways can we pay back God for life by getting involved in community functions? With the whole group, conclude: Today s message helps us realize that we need to be responsible citizens and participate in government. More importantly, we need to serve God. Whenever a government goes against God s ways, we must obey God. Crossing the Ages Activity (Optional activity for children and adults together: 20 minutes) Common Good Designs (Promotes Catholic social teaching, RCIA #75.4) Give a brief presentation about government and the common good according to Catholic social teaching. Make the following points: The organization of society includes politics and economics. These structures should promote human dignity. The community provides opportunities for individuals to grow. Governments collect taxes to develop systems for the good of all. Citizens voice preferences for the common good by voting. Many people select special background designs for checks and credit cards to show their special concerns. Design a check or bank card background that shows you have a special interest in contributing to the common good. Set out precut cards, recycled scratch paper, pencils, rulers, and crayons. Encourage members to draw pictures, print words, or use color effects to create a background design that expresses an interest in the common good. As they finish, invite sharing. Friends on the Way - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 7
CARRYING OUT THE WORD (5 MINUTES) SUMMING UP Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Encourage them to offer insights from this week s session. Summarize: Responsible citizens pay taxes and vote in order to have a voice in government. Society is best when people demand the truth and expect governments to respect everyone s freedom. For the sake of the common good in society, the poor need help. We take part in government by writing letters, listening to the news, voting, and paying taxes. CLOSING PRAYER Invite everyone to pick up a coin from the prayer cloth. Invite those who wish to share what is on the coin. Say: Imagine you are going to use this coin along with other money to return something to God. Quietly reflect about what you would give. As you are ready, come forward, place the coin back on the prayer cloth, and say what you would give to God. Invite those who wish not to speak to quietly return the coins. Then say: Good and generous God, everything we have comes from you. Help us to be pay-back people and return your goodness by giving in ways that make our society a healthy place for everyone. Go forth from this place, giving to God what belongs to God. And may the ever-living God bless us, (Make the Sign of the Cross on yourself as a model for everyone.) protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. All: Amen. Encourage the members to continue saying a daily prayer to their guardian angels. Distribute the Faith at Home page. Collect the nametags. Friends on the Way - Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 8
Faith at Home Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A Remember Sunday s Word Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b Matthew 22:15-21 At a convenient time for the family, gather around a dining table or in the living room. Silence all electronics. Place a Bible opened to Matthew 22 in the center. Begin with a moment of quiet. REFLECTING ON ISAIAH 45:1-6 Even though Cyrus, a Persian king, had faith practices different from Israel, God chose him for a special mission. Cyrus released the Jewish people from Babylonian captivity so they could return to Jerusalem. For the Jews, this was a sign that Cyrus was anointed by the one true God who calls every person by name, even those without religious knowledge. Why is God able to work anywhere, even through people who do not have faith? In calling each of us by name, what does God want us to do? REFLECTING ON 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-5 Paul, Silvanus (also known as Silas), and Timothy traveled around preaching about Jesus, baptizing, and establishing Christian communities. Paul saw three basic graces manifested in the Thessalonians, who responded to the power of the Holy Spirit. These early Christians worked in faith by spreading the gospel message. They labored in love in their daily lives. All the time they endured with the hope of Jesus coming in glory. In what ways do we work in faith, labor in love, and endure in hope? Gather craft supplies, such as, paper, pencils, markers, rulers, scissors, yarn, recycled cardboard pieces and plastic containers, wire hangers, chenille stems, play dough, glue, and glitter. Design faith, hope, and love models. By Janet Miller. Copyright 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to reproduce this handout for family home use.
REFLECTING ON MATTHEW 22:15-21 The leaders were attempting to trick Jesus in order to get rid of him. If' he objected to the exploitive taxes, the Roman authorities would arrest him for treason. If he favored the Romans, however, Jesus would have been discredited as a Jewish rabbi. Jesus turned the trap against these plotters by answering a question with a question. He showed that God, the authority, demands something more important than money. What do we have, as individuals and as a family, that belongs to God? Monetary systems enable societies to have a fair exchange of goods and allow governments to collect taxes to provide for the common good. Sometimes, such as in Roman-occupied lands, governments have demanded exploitive taxes. On a sheet of paper, make a government spending chart with titles like the sample below. Together, as a family talk about how local, state, and federal taxes are spent and fill in your chart accordingly. Government Spending For the Common Good Not Helping the Common Good - Medical care for the poor - Wasteful spending Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A TeamRCIA.com