Everythhing We Are

During work with the parable of the mustard seed Korey said:

The kingdom of God is everything we are and everything that is. It keeps on growing bigger and bigger just as the mustard seed grows into a big shrub.

We are all together in the chalice

While reflecting on the parables, an 8-year-old commented. "The mustard seed is like when the priest adds a drop of water to the wine and it all grows, because we are all together in the chalice to celebrate the Last Supper."

The Power for God

During the reflection on the mustard seed, Willow said, "The power of God makes the seed grow."

After reading the Mustard Seed scripture booklet together, David, 4, said, "I want to take a seed home and tell my mom we're going to plant it." When I wondered how that seed would grow, he said, "Sun and water." When I wondered, "If we gave a rock sun and water, would it grow?" he said, "No!" Then we wondered more about how seeds grow and what the seed tells us about the Kingdom of God.

The Mustard Seed

Sam, 5, said, "You know that little mustard seed? Well, I've been in an airplane and EVERYTHING looks little. But it's not as little as it looks. It's REALLY big. I think this is like that."

While receiving the presentation on the Kingdom of God and the Mustard Seed, Nellie, age 3, exclaimed, "and you water it! And it grows into trees, flowers, carrots and tomatoes!" and then she shot her hands above her head. She carefully held the mustard seed in her hand, and wide-eyed talked of the "big tree" that would grow. We prayed the song "This Tiny Seed" together, and then Nellie gave thanks for "flowers."

During the presentation on the Kingdom of God and the Mustard Seed, while looking at the mustard seed, Sam, age 2, spoke of babies and of having been a baby. Later he prayed, “thank you, thank you, thank you God for the mustard seed.” He then chose to take a seed home with him.

We're IN the Kingdom

I had gathered a group of children to give the presentation of the Hidden Treasure. I had been giving "Kingdom" presentations over the past few weeks. I had noticed Cole, age 5, watching as I gave each presentation to other groups: Mustard Seed, Pearl, Seed. (Cole and this group had already had all these presentations in previous years.) He was also looking intently each week at the mustard seed and wheat seed.
As I gathered the group and told them that we were going to read another Parable about the kingdom, Cole said, "I've been thinking--Is the Kingdom like---the world?" I responded, "Let's read the new parable and see what Jesus says."
I proceeded to read the Scripture. When I brought out the material, a picture of a field and a small treasure box, Cole stood up, looked at his friends in the group, and said in a very confident and excited voice, "I knew it! Guys we're IN the Kingdom."

Catechist Impressions:
As I look back on this incident, I am so glad that I did not respond initially to Cole's question, because affirming his initial question would have robbed him of the joy of his own discovery and response.

What could the treasure be?

The catechist was giving a lesson centered on Jesus' parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who found a treasure hidden in a field (Mt. 13:44)." Noting that Jesus didn't say what was in that treasure, the catechist posed the question: "I wonder what the treasure could be?" The group of 3-6 year-old children answered in turn: "Gold...A bright shining light...the Word...Yep, the book the Shepherd wrote...The Lord...I know it's Jesus...the Cross...A mustard seed...God's hat!"

In us!

Excerpt from DoubleClose: The Young Child's Knowledge of God, by our director, Catherine Maresca:
I was in a group of children that included five-year-old Harry. We were speaking about the mustard seed as an image of the kingdom of God. I asked the children to think of other places where this power of God exists. Harry immediately said with a big smile, "In us!" The other children listed various animals and plants, and Harry repeated, "In us!" The others continued with their ideas and Harry announced a third time, "In us!"
Theological Reflection:
Young children are small and vulnerable. But they are actively working to be strong. As infants, they are often moving their legs and arms to prepare them for crawling and walking. When they start to walk, they like to carry the heaviest bag that they can find. By age five, a good race across a field is exhilarating for them. Harry rejoices that this parable affirms the power within him and his growing strength. It connects his life to God's life, his strength to God's power.
God's life is just as present within in us all. A life that grows from small to large, and from weak to strong. In us! A life that reflects God's love. In us! A life that joins us to God, to one another, and to all of creation. In us!

Jesus is Everybody's Color

During the reflection on the mustard seed, Wendy (age 5) said, "The power of God makes the seed grow." Later the skin color of Jesus came up. She said, "Jesus is everybody's color."

How is God's Kingdom like a Mustard Seed?

Q. How is God's kingdom like a mustard seed?
Jillian, age 5: It's like Jesus who started as a tiny baby and grew and grew - big in love.
Kyle, age 5: It's just small when it starts. And then the love spreads out and grows.

Big in love

Q. How is God's kingdom like a mustard seed?

Lara, age 6: It's like Jesus who started as a tiny baby and grew and grew - big in love.

"Oh, Lord, Shout for Joy!"

After presenting the Mustard Seed to 3 and 4 year old children, Betsy sang with them "Oh, Lord, Shout for Joy." The children added verses including, Early in the morning..., late in the afternoon..., When you wake up..., and finally a three year old sang, When you die...When you live...

"It changes us."

During a presentation of the leaven with a 6-9 group I asked, "Do you think the kingdom changes anything in the world?
Felicia, 6, answered, "It changes us."
"How?"
"It makes us grow - like the seed."

We're IN the Kingdom

I had gathered a group of children to give the presentation of the Hidden Treasure. I had been giving "Kingdom" presentations over the past few weeks. I had noticed Caleb watching as I gave each presentation to other groups: Mustard Seed, Pearl, Seed. (Caleb and this group had already had all these presentations in previous years.) He was also looking intently each week at the mustard seed and wheat seed.
As I gathered the group and told them that we were going to read another Parable about the kingdom, Caleb said, "I've been thinking--Is the Kingdom like---the world?" I responded, "Let's read the new parable and see what Jesus says."
I proceeded to read the Scripture. When I brought out the material, a picture of a field and a small treasure box, Ben stood up, looked at his friends in the group, and said in a very confident and excited voice, "I knew it! Guys we're IN the Kingdom."

Catechist Impressions:
As I look back on this incident, I am so glad that I did not respond initially to Caleb's question, because affirming his initial question would have robbed him of the joy of his own discovery and response.

"Do you think the kingdom changes anything in the world?"

During a presentation of the leaven with a 6-9 group I asked, "Do you think the kingdom changes anything in the world?"
Felicity, 6, answered, "It changes us."
"How?"
"It makes us grow - like the seed."

The love spreads out and grows

Q. How is God's kingdom like a mustard seed?
Leslie (5-years-old): It's like Jesus who started as a tiny baby and grew and grew - big in love.
Keegan (5-years-old): It's just small when it starts. And then the love spreads out and grows.

The Kingdom Changes Us

During a presentation of the leaven with a 6-9 group I asked, "Do you think the kingdom changes anything in the world?
Fiona, 6, answered, "It changes us."
"How?"
"It makes us grow - like the seed."

God is in the seed

After completing a meditation on the mustard seed, Lucas, age six, wrote these words:
"Jesus told his disciples stories. One day he told them that one tiny seed could grow into a giant tree. God is in the seed."



















The back of Lucas' book contained these words:
"His disciples said, "We trust you."