I'd throw a party

At the end of the Cenacle work when I announce that we know that Jesus rose three days after he died, Marina, age 4, said, "If Jesus rose, I'd throw a party."

Risen!

A ten-year-old who had been in the atrium for years, painted this reflection on Resurrection. He chose to cover the cross in the true vine.

Risen!

A ten-year-old who had been in the atrium for years, painted this reflection on Resurrection. He chose to cover the cross in the true vine.

He never died again

After the presentation of Jerusalem, a group of 5-year-olds were invited to sing. At first the children chose a song, but then they decided to write one. These are their lyrics:
Jesus is great.
Jesus died.
He rose from the dead.
He came back alive.
He's the only one who came back alive.
He never died again.

During a review of Good Shepherd presentation at the beginning of the new school year:
Q: "What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Kate, age 6: A long time before Jesus was on the earth, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. God and Moses did plagues on Pharoah and the Egyptians, and the worst one was the Death Angel. The Death Angel flew over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost, but all the first born sons of the Egyptians died. Even Pharoah's own son. But when Jesus came to earth and lived out love, and died on the cross and rose up on Easter, the Death Angel lost his power forever."

No one can kill God

Fatima, age 6, was receiving the presentation on the City of Jerusalem. When her catechist moved the stone away from the entrance of the tomb and said, “He is risen,“ Fatima explained, “ ’Cause no one can kill God.”

Light Shines On!

"The Light Shines on in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome it."
Under the world "Satan" is saying, "I can never get them."

God put a Band-Aid on Him?

The following story and theological reflection is taken from Catherine Maresca's book, DoubleClose: The Young Child's Knowledge of God.

Henry, age four, was working at the model altar with Rob, his catechist. When he lit the candles Rob announced, "Christ has died. Christ is risen." Henry's next remark focused on the death of Jesus. So Rob said again, "He rose from the dead." Henry was quiet and then asked, "God put a Band-aid on him?"

Theological Reflection
For the young child, a Band-aid is a sign of healing and comfort. Children with a small hurt of any kind often ask for a Band-aid, and then return happily to their activities, confident that their injury is now in good hands. With a more significant cut, children have begun to witness with wonder that under a Band-aid a cut becomes new skin in a few days.
Here Henry applies this amazing phenomenon to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Death, the ultimate injury, is transformed into the ultimate healing: new, risen life. This power of God's to transform death into life, sickness into health, sadness into joy, is present every day of our lives, not only at the time of our death. God's "Band-aid" can bless each life. Every injury can be brought to God for comfort, for healing and even for transformation into something new when confidently left in God's good hands. Where do you need God's "Band-aid?"

Resurrection

The Resurrection--by a 7-year-old boy

In her drawing, Madeline, age 7, included a synthesis of several elements. To the left of the cross is the merchant from the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. To the right is a joyous figure with the wine and bread from the Last Supper. The cross, she said, is for resurrection.

“Jesus asked them to be nice and they put him on the cross.”

Caleb, age 4, was working with the Last Supper material in the atrium. He asked, “Why was Jesus on the cross?” I wondered why with him. Caleb replied, “Jesus asked them to be nice and they put him on the cross.”

Another day in the atrium, Caleb had traced the chasubles (vestment in one of five colors that reflect the season of the church year) and explained to me that the meditation time had been “nice”. He explained, “I talked to Jesus. He died.” I asked Caleb what happened after Jesus died, and he replied, “He rose!”

Caleb and Henry, both age 4, and Naomi, age 3, were discussing with me the sheep wool placed under the Peace Bowl in our Atrium. I asked what the wool reminded them about God. Naomi said it reminds us to be quiet so we can listen to God. Henry said it reminds us that the Good Shepherd watches the sheep and that Jesus died and that the sheep reminds us that we are good boys and girls. Caleb said that is reminds us that Jesus died, rose again, and will come back to earth.

Jesus is the son of God.
He is the dwelling of the Lord,
Who was not even defeated by the powers of death.
He sits upon the mighty throne of eternal holiness,
And cannot be taken down from it.
Healer of the sick, giver to the poor,
And rightful son of man.
May all the rightful people of earth praise his exalted name.
by Kimble, age 10

But Jesus didn't stay dead

Delia, age 3, was fascinated with the Last Supper (Cenacle) presentation and asked for it on perhaps six successive weeks. When it was presented to her each time, the figures of Jesus and the twelve were taken one by one from their box as they were brought into the upper room and put around the table. Delia, however, when working alone with the material, always carefully lined the figures up behind Jesus and moved them in and out of the room in this way. I finally realized that she was connecting them with the Good Shepherd story and have since watched her move the figures both in the Good Shepherd parable and Cenacle the same way. She had discovered a great theological truth.

One Sunday after several weeks of this, she was listening to the Eucharistic prayer in church. She asked, "Where is Jesus?" I wondered how best to respond. Last fall our beloved dog died. Delia has been trying to understand death.

Leaving church one Sunday during the weeks she was so involved with the Last Supper story, we passed a large crucifix, with the feet of a life-sized Jesus at her eye level. She approached it and felt the nails, carefully tracing each piece. "Are these real?" she asked. I replied that they were part of the statue, a picture of the real nails. Delia caressed the feet, kissed them, and paused for some time.

Then her mood brightened, she said, "But Jesus didn't stay dead." I asked her what happened. "He got up," she said, and skipped off for cookies and milk at coffee hour.

Mary Had a Baby

Hayden's (age 4) sung prayer at the Paschal Candle:
"Mary had a baby. This is good for all of us, and pray for Mary until the baby, until he dies in the ground, and then he rose on the cross. He was alive a long, long time ago. I thought he would never die again. But you can still go where he lived.
"Someday at supper he said, 'Here's my body' and 'Here's my blood. You should drink this until I die.' And if you wanted to go to the Land of Israel, you'd have to go across the ocean, and over New York and over the salty sea and the plane would drop you off where Jesus lived."

The Road to Emmaus

At the age of 13, the first year after Lizzy completed CGS, she was asked to share a reflection on the reading of the journey to Emmaus for the liturgy at her Confirmation retreat:

Good evening.
We share a similar journey as the disciples journey to Emmaus. We have been told of Jesus' death and resurrection, yet we try to understand its meaning. Sometimes we are confused by it, much like Jesus'disciples. We have read the Bible and learned about Jesus'teachings yet we remain blind. And although each of us has experienced the Lord's presence in our own life, have we learned to truly recognize Jesus?

The spiritual journeys we take as Christians are indeed journeys from blindness to sight. And we must rely upon the gift of discernment to aid us as we walk towards God.

There is a contrast between the women at the tomb and the disciples' response to Jesus' resurrection. The women did not see Jesus, but understood that the angel was sent by god and had accurately proclaimed that Jesus had risen. However, the disciples were chided for their disbelief and confronted with the scriptures by Jesus himself. Yet they could not understand the truth. Finally when Jesus shared a meal with them, their eyes were opened and they understood. Then Jesus left the disciples to marvel at the events of that day.

Let us come together as we prepare for our confirmation and share in the Paschal Mystery.

Meditation with the Sand Labyrinth

From a catechist: "I decided to present the sand labyrinth to my Level 2 children. They each took a turn "walking" through the labyrinth and then later, I asked about their experience with it. One child said it felt weird but good.

"Another seven-year-old said it reminded her of Jesus. I asked in what way. She said, 'Well, going in made me think of Jesus as He carried his cross through Jerusalem. In the center was like where He was crucified with those two other guys. Coming out made me think of His time in the tomb and when I finally got out, it was like Jesus' coming to life again.'"

The Nails Do Not Hold Him

A simple cross was drawn with nails in it, but no Jesus. I asked where Jesus was and seven-year-old Kurt replied, "The Nails did not hold Him," followed by silence.

During a review of Good Shepherd presentation at the beginning of the new school year:
Q: "What do you already know about the Good Shepherd?"
Katherine: A long time before Jesus was on the earth, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. God and Moses did plagues on Pharoah and the Egyptians, and the worst one was the Death Angel. The Death Angel flew over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost, but all the first born sons of the Egyptians died. Even Pharoah's own son. But when Jesus came to earth and lived out love, and died on the cross and rose up on Easter, the Death Angel lost his power forever."

"We're Eternal"

Aidan, 6, said during a reflection on the Wolf and Hireling, "The Good Shepherd's not afraid to stand in front of the wolf. He's eternal. And we're eternal, too. Not in this life; in a whole brand new life after this one."