Trevor is age 5. He has not always come to the atrium
consistently, yet when he is present, he is contented and eager
to work. For several weeks now Trevor has only wanted to do
the work with the parable of the leaven. Quite familiar with
the scripture having read it so often, Trevor just wanted me to
sit with him as he worked yesterday. Instead of reading the
scripture first, I simply wondered out loud, "Since Jesus used
parables to tell us about God and the Kingdom of God, I wonder
what he wanted us to understand telling us a parable about
leaven?"
Trevor began working then, measured flour for both bowls
leveling each scoop painstakingly slow, marveling at how each
time it looked like a plowed field. Then he measured
the yeast. As he leveled off the yeast in the teaspoon he
suddenly said out loud, yet to himself: It makes perfect
sense! Jesus is called the 'Bread of Life.' You have to
have yeast to make Bread. And Jesus is like the yeast for us!"
He happily stirred the water into the mixture, placed the bowls
under the heat lamp, took the spoons to the washing bend and
hummed contentedly to himself until it was time to gather at the
prayer table.
Listening to the child with respect and humility was the foundation of educator Maria Montessori’s work. We invite you to read through these posts from our collection of art, theological comments and prayers of children, and share your own reflections. Considering these responses together may help us deepen our understanding of the mysteries of the child and God.
from the
Children have a deep relationship with God, rich in love and profound joy. They know God, even before God's name is spoken to them. God dwells in the heart of the child. The spirituality of the child has so much to teach us as adults, yet often we are in too much of a hurry to truly listen.
With this blog, we at the Center for Children and Theology invite you to listen for God with children. For over twenty years, we have collected theological reflections, artwork and prayers of children, generally in response to their work in the Montessori-based religious formation program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The names of children have been changed to protect their privacy.
With this blog, we at the Center for Children and Theology invite you to listen for God with children. For over twenty years, we have collected theological reflections, artwork and prayers of children, generally in response to their work in the Montessori-based religious formation program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The names of children have been changed to protect their privacy.
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