Catechist Preparation Ses sion 4
God Directs Our Lives
Knowing and Sharing Your Faith in Session 4
3-Minute Retreat
Consider how Scripture and Tradition can deepen your understanding of the session content.
As you prepare your session, pause for a few moments to set aside distractions. Take a few deep breaths and rest in the loving presence of Jesus, who is with you as you continue to share in his mission.
Scripture Matthew 18:1–5 tells how Jesus explains who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:4–5
Mark 10:15 is where Jesus tells us that we are to accept the Kingdom of Heaven like a child.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one
Tradition
child such as this in my name receives me.
Reflection Our society’s emphasis on independence, strength, and power runs counter to what Jesus shares with his disciples in this passage from Matthew. Jesus turns the idea of greatness upside down and tells his disciples that childlike dependence on God is the path to Salvation. In the Beatitudes Jesus provides us with direction as we seek to grow in virtue and share more fully in God’s life.
Questions As a catechist how do I welcome children whom God has placed in my care? What can their childlike trust and dependence teach me?
Prayer Speak to God, using this prayer or one of your own. Loving Jesus, help me depend on you more each day. Thank you for the blessing of sharing with others the faith you give me.
Jesus tells his disciples that they have to be like children to be members of his kingdom. In biblical times children were not considered important. By setting up the child as a model for the kingdom, Jesus was not speaking in terms of childlike innocence. He was speaking of the child as totally dependent. Jesus requires humility from his believers so that self-reliance can be turned into trust in God. Jesus asks us to practice humility and service by living the Beatitudes.
Catholic Social Teaching In this session the integrated Catholic Social Teaching theme is Call to Family, Community, and Participation. See page 1b for an explanation of this theme.
Window on the Catechism The relationship between the Old and the New Law is found in CCC 1965–1970. Background for the Beatitudes is discussed in CCC 1716–1717. The Theological Virtues are discussed in CCC 1813–1829.
General Directory for Catechesis We strive to help our learners reform their lives and rearrange their priorities. Jesus makes it clear that love of God and love of neighbor is the basis of all the Law and the prophets. Love of God and love of neighbor are “lived in the spirit of the Beatitudes.” This concept is explored in GDC 115.
Un it 1 • Session 4
i_FG_TE_G5U1S4a.indd
~ pg 1 ~
PDF Signoff: Production _______
LoyolaPress.
Design _______
Editorial _______
21a
8/25/11 11:28 AM