Lesson 10: Reflection on The Vocation Tree and Application to Self SWBAT name symbols in The Vocation Tree and describe what they symbolize. SWBAT explain that the fruits of the Spirit are given to those who choose God s will. SWBAT reflect on quotes from Scripture, saints, etc., in terms of The Vocation Tree. Materials Individual-size Vocation Tree cards for each student; student copies of Warmup and Prayer/Closure sheets; Quotes sheet cut into individual quotes Warm-up Students use individual Vocation Tree cards to do Warm-up sheet. ~4 minutes Sequence 1: The Fruit of the Spirit ~15-20 minutes Discuss symbols listed on the Warm-up sheets. Use a mention of the leaves representing talents to ask the students to recall the Parable of the Talents. What happens if we use our talents to do good, to be and do what God created us to be and do? And what happens if we don t? (joy vs. anxiety) Ask students if they can recall who said: To everyone who has, more will be given. [Jesus.] Have them turn over their warm-up sheets and match the quotes to the speakers during this discussion. Discuss the quotes in the order on the sheet: What do you think quote 1 means? Elicit fruits of the Spirit connect to fruits in the painting. God does not force us to love him or accept his love or to use our talents to do what he made us to do, or to be what he made us to be. He gives us all free will. If we choose to do what God asks, St. Paul tells us that we will be given the fruit of the Spirit. [Read quotes 2 and 3 aloud. ] What additional fruits has God revealed to the Church? When we do God s will, we help bring new life to the Church. Mary is our perfect example of that: After the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her what God had planned for her (to have the baby Jesus), Mary said [Read quote 4.] In saying this, Mary became the first Consecrated Virgin (point to The Vocation Tree). Sequence 2: Reflection on quotes related to The Vocation Tree and application of concepts to self ~15-20 minutes Mary accepted God s plan, setting the best example for us. Most of us do not learn about God s plan for us in this way, but he has a plan for us, and he will let us know it little by little if we listen to him. Ask God and he will answer you in your heart he will help you to want what he has planned for you, to go down the path his angels have prepared for you. Hand out quotes, 1 for every 2-4 students. Have them discuss their quotes in terms of The Vocation Tree to say how they are related. Tie comments in to The Vocation Tree painting and Lessons 1-9. [Optional: Discuss the common saying, Just be yourself. What does this mean in terms of The Vocation Tree? How can you be yourself if you do not know yourself? You must get to know yourself as God made you to be.] Hand out Prayer sheets. Read the first part aloud together. Have students fill in their own words and share. Closure Have students turn Prayer sheets over. All say Cardinal John Henry Newman s prayer together. ~2 minutes 2010 The Vocation Tree, Inc. www.vocationtree.com
Name Date Period List symbols that appear in The Vocation Tree. Describe what they symbolize. Symbol What it means or symbolizes Name Date Period List symbols that appear in The Vocation Tree. Describe what they symbolize. Symbol What it means or symbolizes 2010 The Vocation Tree, Inc. www.vocationtree.com Lesson 10, Warm-up and Sequence 1
Match each quote (on the left) to its speaker or source (on the right). St. Paul in his 1. To everyone who has, more will be given. Letter to the Galatians (5: 22-23) 2. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, The Catechism of gentleness, self-control. the Catholic Church, paragraph 1832 3. "The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. 4. May it be done to me according to your word. Blessed Virgin Mary to the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38) Jesus (Matthew 25:29) Match each quote (on the left) to its speaker or source (on the right). St. Paul in his 1. To everyone who has, more will be given. Letter to the Galatians (5: 22-23) 2. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, The Catechism of gentleness, self-control. the Catholic Church, paragraph 1832 3. "The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. 4. May it be done to me according to your word. Blessed Virgin Mary to the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38) Jesus (Matthew 25:29) 2010 The Vocation Tree, Inc. www.vocationtree.com Lesson 10, Warm-up and Sequence 1
But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If (one) part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. Saint Paul, 1 Cor 12: 25-27 If you are who you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire. Saint Catherine of Siena
God calls all the souls he has created to love him with their whole being, here and thereafter, which means that he calls all of them to holiness, to perfection, to a close following of him and obedience to his will. But he does not ask all souls to show their love by the same works, to climb to heaven by the same ladder, to achieve goodness in the same way. What sort of work, then, must I do? Which is my road to heaven? In what kind of life am I to sanctify myself? Blessed Charles de Foucald When the whole body is working together, creation s ability to burst forth with new life is fostered, and the Church becomes a place where even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young. Judith Stegman, Psalm 84:4
You were born to become the-best-version-of-yourself. This is your essential purpose. In every situation, ask yourself, Which of the options before me will help me become the-best-version-of-myself? Matthew Kelly, Perfectly Yourself The world doesn t need another Mother Teresa. The world doesn t need another Francis of Assisi. The world needs you. Matthew Kelly, Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. Saint Paul, 1 Cor 12: 4-11
Make sure that you let God s grace work in your souls by accepting whatever he gives you, and giving him whatever he takes from you. True holiness consists in doing God s will with a smile. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in his love than in your own weakness. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta We are many parts. We are all one body. And the gifts we have, we are given to share. May the Spirit of love, make us one indeed. Marty Haugen, We Are Many Parts 1986 GIA Publications
Now is your time. You have one life, and it is short. Use is powerfully. Matthew Kelly Never stop looking for the work you love doing. Matthew Kelly Corinthians passages from the New American Bible References Quotes from Saints and Blesseds taken from Fr. Stephen Wang s How to Discover Your Vocation: Marriage, Priesthood, Consecrated Life, Permanent Diaconate, Single Life, downloaded March 2010 from http://www.poorclares.ie/reading.html Matthew Kelly quotes downloaded March 2010 from www.matthewkelly.org Judith Stegman s quote from The Vocation Tree Guide for Instructors: First Edition, Vocation Tree, Inc. 2008 Matthew Kelly s book Perfectly Yourself, Ballantine/Random House 2006 Matthew Kelly s DVD series Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose, Beacon Publishing 2004 Marty Haugen, We Are Many Parts 1986 GIA Publications, downloaded March 2010 from http://www.mljmusic.com/portals/0/lyrics/we%20are%20many%20parts.pdf
Dear Lord, What a beautiful world you have made! Thank you for the talents, opportunities, and calling you have given me. Sorry for the times I have not listened to your voice in my heart. Help me know you and myself better so that I do your will. Jesus, in myself, I see. I notice I think. I wonder Jesus, I trust in you! I love you! Amen. Dear Lord, What a beautiful world you have made! Thank you for the talents, opportunities, and calling you have given me. Sorry for the times I have not listened to your voice in my heart. Help me know you and myself better so that I do your will. Jesus, in myself, I see. I notice I think. I wonder Jesus, I trust in you! I love you! Amen. Dear Lord, What a beautiful world you have made! Thank you for the talents, opportunities, and calling you have given me. Sorry for the times I have not listened to your voice in my heart. Help me know you and myself better so that I do your will. Jesus, in myself, I see. I notice I think. I wonder Jesus, I trust in you! I love you! Amen. Dear Lord, What a beautiful world you have made! Thank you for the talents, opportunities, and calling you have given me. Sorry for the times I have not listened to your voice in my heart. Help me know you and myself better so that I do your will. Jesus, in myself, I see. I notice I think. I wonder Jesus, I trust in you! I love you! Amen. 2010 The Vocation Tree, Inc. www.vocationtree.com Lesson 10, Sequence 2 and Closure
God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore, my God, I will put myself without reserve into your hands. What have I in heaven, and apart from you what do I want upon earth? My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the God of my heart, and my portion forever. -Cardinal John Henry Newman God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore, my God, I will put myself without reserve into your hands. What have I in heaven, and apart from you what do I want upon earth? My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the God of my heart, and my portion forever. -Cardinal John Henry Newman God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore, my God, I will put myself without reserve into your hands. What have I in heaven, and apart from you what do I want upon earth? My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the God of my heart, and my portion forever. God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I sh be a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore, my God, I will put myself without reserve into your hands. What have I in heaven, and apart from you what do I want upon earth? My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the God of my heart, and my portion forever. -Cardinal John Henry Newman -Cardinal John Henry Newman 2010 The Vocation Tree, Inc. www.vocationtree.com Lesson 10, Sequence 2 and Closure