2020.03.01 The Good Shepherd's Crook is Confession

Overview & Learning Objective(s):

Today's lesson was abbreviated as we began working on the song we will be performing at our annual Palm Sunday Breakfast (Sing It Hosanna). But before the singing began we accomplished much. First, we worked on the 5 Steps to a Good Confession.  Next, we heard the Parable of the Good Shepherd, and then did an experiment to help the children visualize what happens when they go the the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In each case, our objective was to emphasize the power of coming back to God when we sin, so that we feel loved, forgiven and safe, in a way that validates us as uniquely chosen people with purpose. How blessed we are to be among His flock!

New Word:

Shepherd

Review Words:

Examination, Conscience, Reconciliation, Contrition, Repentance, Confession, Penance

Classroom Activities:

Our Early Bird Worksheet called for the tracing of our hands to learn the 5 steps for making a good confession.  The steps are: (1) find out our sins by Examining our Conscience, (2) be sorry, (3) repent by making up our minds not to sin again, (4) tell our sins to a priest in confession, and (5) do our penance (which are the prayers that the priest gives us to say, on our own, after he forgives our sins).

As you may recall, last week we completed an Examination of Conscience and we spent time today discussing their self-evaluations and exploring what they might do to improve. The innocence and honesty that comes from children of this age is truly inspiring.

The actual practicing of going to confession will take place in the near future.

Next, we spent some time looking for lost sheep that were hidden in the room, as a lead-in to the Parable of the Good Shepherd . The visual of Jesus as the shepherd and us, as the lost sheep when we sin, is a beautiful reminder of how treacherous it can be out in the world, how naive many of us are with respect to those dangers, and how there is no safer, more fulfilling place to be than with Him.

Lastly, the children watched a science experiment where I used three jars labeled, "sin", "Jesus", and "our souls".  They saw how sin blackens our soul and then how, through confession, Jesus washes them clean. The children were quite impressed, with many having their own theories on how it all happened. Post a comment if you want the secret, so that you can recreate the activity with your child.

At Home Reinforcement:

Work with your child to routinely do an Examination of Conscience. If possible, do it at the same time every day - before bed is ideal.  Then it will become a habit and a means by which your child can be trained to self reflect and, hopefully, self improve.