1 2 Jesus Calls Apostles understand that Jesus invites everyone to help him. Human experience through the ages testifies that we fear the call to a different way of life. There is the challenge to answer the divine call and the temptation to resist. There is the fear of being set apart and of losing one s security. Yet there is the conviction that we must follow our call. Jesus, in calling his apostles to follow him, does not hide what his invitation to great expectations requires: Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Mark 1:17) The call to share in the work of the Lord is given to all who have been graced by Baptism. In the Memorial Prayer of Eucharistic Prayer II, as the priest offers the life-giving bread and the saving cup to the Father, we are reminded of our sublime call:... giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Mark 1:16 20; 2:13 14 and John 1:35 51 Jesus Calls the Apostles. Matthew 8:23 27 Jesus Calms the Storm at Sea. Mark 1:17 Fishers of Men 541, 547 548, 849 856, 934 know that Jesus had helpers and that we are all called to be one of Jesus helpers. explain that people in all walks of life work together to bring God s love to our world. understand that Christians are called to be Jesus helpers. understand that deacons, priests, and religious share Jesus work in a special way. discuss the life of Frances Cabrini. apostle Good News the message that God loves us missionary someone who brings the Good News of Jesus to others religious sisters and brothers women and men who have publicly professed vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity We Become Better Persons understand that through sorrow for sin and penance, we become better friends of Jesus. When obstacles block our path, the mere act of clearing them away does not bring us any closer to our goal. Removing the obstacles is but the first task; we must take some steps once the way is clear. The Scriptures emphasize that the sincerity of our repentance can be known only by what we do after forgiveness is granted. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, after the priest encourages us to improve, he speaks the words of absolution. The Holy Spirit, constantly working within us, makes us aware of God s loving intention behind the storms and trials of life. Through the Spirit, we realize how selfish attitudes influence our activities. Then we are able to give the Lord first place in our hearts and lives. Psalm 51:1 14 Prayer for Forgiveness Luke 19:1 10 Zacchaeus Change of Heart Psalm 138:3 You Strengthened Me. 1459 1460, 1465, 1491 describe ways to make up for unloving behavior. explain that penance is how we make up for unloving acts. explain the importance of contrition and the significance of absolution. describe the part of the rite of the Sacrament of Reconciliation that follows the confession of sins. describe the procedure for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. absolution contrition Act of Contrition prayer of sorrow for sin praise to declare how great and wonderful God is sorrow extreme sadness 88 Home Learning Guide www.christourlife.com
3 4 Jesus Came to Give Life understand that Jesus cured people and brought them back to life as a sign of the new life he brings us. Jesus showed love and compassion for those who suffered from physical disabilities. He healed people who were lame, gave sight to those who were blind, and even raised the dead to life. In doing so, Jesus not only showed his great love for people, but also was revealing the presence of the Kingdom of God here on earth. Jesus healings truly announced that the Kingdom of God was at hand. Today, Jesus continues his works of healing through the sacraments, as divine love continues to be translated into living deeds. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the great source of spiritual healing, in which the triumph of Jesus over sin and Satan is truly celebrated. The Eucharist has healing power, as does the Anointing of the Sick. Through the Church, Jesus continues to minister to those who suffer. All of us participate in this ministry to some extent when our acts of thoughtfulness and assistance show Jesus love to those who suffer. Mark 1:40 45 The Cure of the Man with Leprosy Luke 7:11 16 Raising of the Widow s Son Luke 8:40 56 Jairus s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage Luke 18:35 43 The Cure of the Blind Man John 14:12 The Last Supper 547 549, 2609, 2616 know of Jesus compassion for people who suffer through the story of his healing the man with leprosy. tell the story of Jesus bringing the widow s son back to life. describe the stories of the miracle of Jesus cure of the blind man and of the hemorrhaging woman. describe the story of Jesus raising a girl from the dead. tell how Jesus healing miracles announced God s kingdom. We Grow in Holiness understand that we must not only hear God s Word, but we must also live it. As followers of Jesus, we are privileged to hear God s saving Word at every Eucharist and to read it ourselves in Scripture. We are free to respond as we wish. We may walk away untouched and unmoved by these words, letting them go in one ear and out the other. Or we may let them take root in our heart and work in us, transforming us into the people we were intended to be people full of love. In the parable of the sower, Jesus elaborates on the various responses to the Word. He also points out that those who listen to the Word bear abundant fruit as much as a hundred times the amount of those who do not listen. If all who heard God s Word reflected on it and applied it to their own lives, what a wonderful world it would be. Mark 4:3 9 Parable of the Sower Mark 4:14 20 Jesus Explanation of the Parable 1 John 3:18 Love for One Another 102 103, 108, 131 133, 546 discuss the Parable of the Sower. explain that good deeds witness to God s Word. review his or her understanding of the first three commandments by participating in games and activities. explain that he or she can show love for God by keeping the first three commandments. explain the importance of spreading Christ s kingdom. Nain village in southwest Galilee; the name means pleasant www.christourlife.com part 2 Working With Your Children and Christ Our Life: New Evangelization Edition 89
5 6 God s Healing Love understand that conscience helps us exercise our freedom to choose what is good. Jesus, the perfect Revelation of the Father, manifested the mercy of God by his healing and forgiving love while on earth. Jesus cures, or healings, were for the spirit as well as for the body. He forgave the paralytic his sins before he cured his illness; he absolved the woman taken in adultery after he saved her body from stoning. His final act of love was to suffer and die on the Cross so that we might be healed and saved from sin, and even while he suffered, he forgave those responsible. Sinners that we are, we have all benefited from Christ s healing love and forgiveness many times in our lives. We in turn should share that healing love with others by forgiving those who in any way have offended us and by asking forgiveness of those we have in any way offended. Luke 5:17 26 The Healing of a Paralytic 1 Peter 1:18 19 Ransomed by the Blood of Christ Psalm 30:3 The Mercy of the Lord 1778 1781, 1783 1785, 1849, 1854 1863 define conscience as a judgment of the rightness or wrongness of an act. define the term Anointing of the Sick. describe sin and the effects of sin. distinguish between mortal sin and venial sin and their effects. define the term sanctifying grace. evaluate the choices made in problem situations. Anointing of the Sick sanctifying grace Act of Contrition prayer recited to express to God one s sorrow for his or her sins contrition sorrow for one s sins, which can be perfect contrition (sorrow because one offended God) or imperfect contrition (sorrow due to other motives, such as fear of hell) Learning God s Way understand that, like the Israelites, we are called to grow in our ability to make decisions based on faith. By our Baptism we have entered into a covenant relationship with the God of all creation. We have pledged to live according to the mind of Jesus, as enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Our daily lives, with their many decisions, can give evidence of the depth of our faith and the stability of our commitment. We will want to open our lives to God and allow him to work in and through us. Each day we will strive to listen to God as we are challenged to apply the values and principles of Gospel living in our lives. Do we have informed Christian consciences that prepare us to make Christian decisions, to accept responsibility for our decisions, and to cope with their consequences? If we would meet this challenge, we must devote time to both prayer and study, allowing the Lord himself to form our minds and hearts according to the Gospel values of Jesus. Numbers 13 14 The Israelites Reach Canaan. Numbers 20:1 13 A Complaining People Matthew 5:3 12 The Beatitudes Romans 12:2 Discern What Is Good. 1778 1794, 2070, 2634 2636 describe why the Israelites did not enter Canaan immediately. explain that belief demands a certain mode of behavior. identify the need for taking responsibility for the consequences of his or her decisions. identify the function of conscience in decision making. describe how to form a correct conscience. explain how making Christian decisions is a sign of faith. intercession Promised Land Canaan, the land promised by God to the Israelites; its modern-day name is Israel 90 Home Learning Guide www.christourlife.com
7 8 The Message of Jesus: Choose Life Jesus the Teacher understand that keeping Jesus Great Commandment of love means to respect life. Christian morality is not merely a list of what is permitted and what is not. Rather, it is an invitation to respond to the love of the one who has called us into being, and, through Jesus, to become all that we are called to be. By our creation and by our Baptism, we have been drawn into and washed over by the love of Jesus. We are enabled to love after the example of Jesus. In loving as Jesus loves, we encounter the mystery of God, who is love. Christian love nurtures life at all times. It protects the unborn and those who are aged. It heals the wounds of hasty words. It hopes all things and engenders that hope in sin-weary humanity. Matthew 5:21 48 Jesus Teaches a New Understanding of the Law. Matthew 22:36 40 The Greatest Commandment Luke 10:29 37 The Good Samaritan Genesis 1:27 God Created Mankind in His Image. 2268 2287, 2302 2317, 2447 2448 explain some implications of Jesus Sermon on the Mount for his or her own life. explain that Jesus accepts us and challenges us to grow. list ways to protect and nurture the gift of life. define certain sins against life and explain why they are wrong. identify the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and ways to carry them out. abortion scandal ageism sexism euthanasia suicide racism prejudice unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people A Light in Darkness: Part I understand that during invasions by northern tribes, strong popes, monks, and holy men and women helped preserve civilization and the faith. With the end of the persecutions, the Roman Empire, which had been the sworn enemy of Christianity for almost three centuries, became its champion. In the late fifth century, a movement began that was to topple every institution of the empire except the Church. For many years, uncivilized tribes had lived on the borders of the empire. Compelled by their need for food and land and fleeing the vicious Huns, they invaded. Germanic tribes gradually overran the empire, burning, looting, and pillaging. By the early sixth century, they controlled practically all of Europe. For European Christians, the invasions of Germanic tribes marked the end of the world as they had known it. Scholars, who have dubbed this period the Dark Ages, consider it a low point in Western history. But amid the murk and gloom, a small flame shone bravely and steadily. In those monasteries that had survived the invasions, monks were tending the light of Christian civilization, culture, and learning. Luke 8:16 That Others May See the Light John 8:12 I Am the Light of the World. 817, 873, 920 921, 925 927, 2089 describe the role of the Church in preserving faith and culture after the Fall of the Roman Empire. explain how monks worked as missionaries and educators. identify and explain the Theological and Cardinal Virtues. explain how the Church adapted to change. identify great women of the Middle Ages who are models of holiness. propose ways to make Christ s values a part of his or her life. virtue Germanic tribes uneducated, pagan tribes that invaded Europe during the fifth century and contributed to the Fall of the Roman Empire www.christourlife.com part 2 Working With Your Children and Christ Our Life: New Evangelization Edition 91
GATHER AND GO FORTH CHAPTERS 1 25 Gather and Go Forth S 1-8 FOCUS: The new Gather and Go Forth pages at the end of every chapter respond directly to the Church s call for a New Evangelization. Material shows children how to know, proclaim, witness, share, and invite others to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The new pages encourage children to turn their hearts to God, share with others the Good News through their words and deeds, and take an active part in the life of the Church. Children live their faith and the goals of the New Evangelization when they use various features of the Gather and Go Forth pages: Scripture sidebar Scripture in every chapter helps children grow in understanding and love for God s Word, persuading them to embrace Jesus Christ and his Way. Know and Proclaim Faith facts and associated practices show children our unique identity as a Catholic people so children can be confident inviting others to faith. Test Your Catholic Knowledge A question that aligns with the NCEA IFG: ACRE provides practice in test taking and promotes children s understanding of a key faith concept. A Catholic to Know A brief biography of a saint shows a heroic life of Catholic witness who encourages children to live a life of holiness as a disciple of Jesus Christ. My Way to Faith statements allow children time to reflect on their Catholic beliefs so they can assess where they are on their path to holiness and where they d like to be! Share Your Faith Children are evangelizers when they make a discipleship promise to others, keep it, and then invite others to do the same. 140 Home Learning Guide www.christourlife.com