Today was our Valentine's Day party and the reenactment of the Last Supper - two events that celebrate love! God the Father sent the ultimate Valentine as He gave His only Son so that we might be saved. In that He died on the cross for the remission of our sins, Jesus is the perfect role model of sacrificial love.
As we learned about the Last Supper, we discussed how the meal started with Jesus in service of others, by washing the feet of those gathered around Him. We also emphasized the fact that only the 12 Apostles were present at the table, as this event was foundational to the formation of the priesthood and our Catholic Church.
At the meal, Jesus spoke the words of CONSECRATION (the act of making holy) that are used by priests to this day at every Divine Liturgy, as they change ordinary bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The children learned that Jesus commanded the Apostles to "DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME!"
There were a couple of Apostles that we talked about in particular, including Peter and Judas - two men who played key roles in the story of our salvation.
Peter became our church's first Pope, while Judas was the man who gave Jesus the "kiss of death", by betraying Him for a mere 30 pieces of silver. This would be the equivalent to about $3000 in today's value. Greed can drive a person to the extreme. While Judas did make an attempt to repent, his repentance soon turned to despair. His demise is proof of how we, as chosen people, can be prime targets for special temptations by Satan. As such, we must use the sacraments to stay strong.
We broke bread (pizzelles), drank wine (cranberry grape juice), discussed the importance of eating together as a family, and always remembering Jesus with a grateful heart.
We then talked about Holy Communion as a meal that satisfies and nourishes our souls. When we receive Holy Communion with an open and contrite heart, we become one with Jesus and are the closest that we can be to Him while we are still on this earth.
We spent time sharing what we think about and how we feel when we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, looking for ways to make it more special. We heard a prayer that might be helpful to say:
“Good and sweet Jesus, I am so glad You came into my heart.
May you live in my heart always. I thank you for
giving Yourself to me in Holy Communion. Amen.”
It was an enlightening conversation, and one that hopefully will add spiritual value as they continue their preparation to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and thereby the Holy Eucharist in the state of grace.
The children then heard another story - "The Miracle of the Wedding Feast of Cana". This was Jesus' first miracle wherein His mother asked Him to take care of an embarrassing problem that the bride and groom had at their wedding reception. In that the couple had ran out of wine for their guests, Jesus turned water into wine - the finest that people had ever tasted. This was a foretelling of the Holy Eucharist and a wonderful example of how Jesus obeyed the Fourth Commandment by honoring His mother.
We then had casual table talk and played a Sunday school version of the game - "Would You Rather? The answers to such questions as "Would you rather be an angel or a saint?" or "Would you rather wash somebody's feet or have your feet be washed?" were both fun and thought-provoking.
The children also had an opportunity to draw on the craft paper that covered our table, then to play Apostle Upset, or Heart Toss, as we ended class with our Valentine's Day party activities.
The children also had an opportunity to draw on the craft paper that covered our table, then to play Apostle Upset, or Heart Toss, as we ended class with our Valentine's Day party activities.
At Home Reinforcement:
Consider sharing with your child the thoughts and feelings you personally experience when you receive Holy Communion, and what you do to keep the moment intentional, special and spiritually stimulating.
Sometimes we can find ourselves distracted or going through motions, such that we miss the golden opportunity that presents itself. That is why staying mindful in the moment is so very important when we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Reinforcing and modeling a reverent reception of the Eucharist will help your child learn the right way to receive so that they can fully benefit from this amazing sacrament.
Hopefully, they will have weekly opportunities to worship and receive at the Divine Liturgy. It is a standing invitation for a meal that is out of this world.
Sometimes we can find ourselves distracted or going through motions, such that we miss the golden opportunity that presents itself. That is why staying mindful in the moment is so very important when we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Reinforcing and modeling a reverent reception of the Eucharist will help your child learn the right way to receive so that they can fully benefit from this amazing sacrament.
Hopefully, they will have weekly opportunities to worship and receive at the Divine Liturgy. It is a standing invitation for a meal that is out of this world.
No comments:
Post a Comment