November gives us the opportunity to give thanks, and pray and act for the good of others.
As we move into the holiday season we are offered amy opportunities to not only pray, but also act for the good of others. Our holiday season starts with a holiday that focuses on appreciation, Thanksgiving. The recognition of all the good things we have and gifts that God has bestowed upon us during this holiday. Celebrating all the good things we have should urge us to recognize how the less fortunate often go without. This balance between appreciation for our own, and a desire for the good of others is a healthy Christian perspective. The appreciation for gifts given to us should naturally lead to the concerned for the wellbeing of our neighbor. For this month's activities we will examine the Beatitudes to lead us toward supporting our neighbors in need during the holiday season.
November session agenda:
1. Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families book assignment.
2. View videos on the Beatitudes.
3. Age appropriate assignments
4. Family activity
5. Complete the family survey to be recognized for the time you've spent talking about the Beatitudes.
6. This Thanksgiving remember those who are hungry.
1.
From our Celebrating Sundays for Catholic Families book, pages 18-19
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2.
Videos
Video for the younger ones.
For the middle ones.
This is a Theology class (but entertaining,) for parents and older kids.
Fr. Mike does not specifically address the Beatitudes, but offers kind of a neat connection and way of thinking about the blessed of the beatitudes.
3.
Age Based Materials
Two versions of the same documents are contained below for your ease of use.
K-2nd grades
| jesus_lives_11_-_younger.pdf |
Grades 3-6
| jesus_lives_11_-_older.pdf |
7th and 8th grades.
Read pages 23-31 in Glorify the Lord by Your Life, and talk about questions 1-3 on page 31 as a family.
4.
Family Activity
The Beatitudes can be recognized as not only the way to live a Christian life of joy, but also a Christian call to action. As we have explored in the last two months how we recognize and work toward the common good, the Beatitudes offer our families the opportunity to actively participate in the building of joy for ourselves and our neighbors. We are offered a dynamic perspective of being and doing in the lesson given by Jesus in the Beatitudes. So let's take a look at them and explore how we can use them as our direction to work for everyone.
The Beatitudes
The Family activity is to discuss all of the Beatitudes as a family, and pick one that your family can put into action.
For examples see the video above from That Religion Teacher, Close Encounter with the Beatitudes video below, or use some of the following examples as inspiration.
The Beatitudes
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
- Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
- Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Family activity is to discuss all of the Beatitudes as a family, and pick one that your family can put into action.
For examples see the video above from That Religion Teacher, Close Encounter with the Beatitudes video below, or use some of the following examples as inspiration.
- The first Beatitude points to a state of being that really informs or forms the rest. Being poor in spirit recognizes that there is a God and I am not Him. Being poor in spirit puts God and the needs of others ahead of ones self. Praying and working for those in need is being poor in spirit.
- God consoles those that mourn, a reliance on God helps the mourning, but we are also called to console those that are morning through supportive words and gestures.
- We are not only called to humility (meek,) but supporting and encouraging others to give credit to God for the gifts we have is how we act for the meek.
- We should support causes and people that work for righteous causes that work for the poor and oppressed. In supporting them, they will find satisfaction. Volunteers peacefully march against an unjust law. A student stands up for an individual who is being bullied, teased, and thereby tormented.
- Forgive others and you will be merciful, encourage merciful actions and mercy will find its way to you. Acknowledge and respect those that suffer for being children of God and you will be giving a gift of mercy.
- Acknowledge and support those with good, or right motives. Join with them, and call them a child of God.
- The last one, stand up for what is right, and defend those that do the same.