Gift of the Spirit: Understanding

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

• Bulletin Announcements
• Prayers of the Faithful
• Prayer for the Month
• Homily Helps
• Saints of the Month
• Video Resources for Students
• Activities for the Gift of Understanding
• Activities for Activating the Fruit of Peace
• Family Cenacle
• Cenacle Readings for the Month

Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit Gift and Fruit for October
The month of October focuses on the gift of Understanding and the fruit of Peace. The bishop asks all to use the prayer of the month found on the diocesan website, www.diokzoo.org/holy-spirit under October Resources to activate this gift in our lives and increase this fruit within us.

Parish and Family Cenacle for the Year of the Holy Spirit
If you haven’t already done so, please participate in your parish cenacle or do so in your own families. The prayer format for a parish or family cenacle can be found under the monthly resources. The success of this Jubilee Year will greatly depend on your prayer! 

Bishop’s Pastoral Letter for the Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit
Bishop Bradley has posted a video and written a pastoral letter outlining the purpose and goals of this Jubilee Year of the Holy Spirit. Please read and reflect regularly on the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter. Please also pray daily the Prayer to the Holy Spirit and read and reflect upon it regularly. 
The can be found on the diocesan website at diokzoo.org/holy-spirit. 

That the Holy Spirit will enkindle within our hearts the fervency of faith which will bring us the courage to witness to those around us, and especially in this month of October to increase within us the fruit of peace and the gift of understanding. We pray to the Lord…

That the Holy Spirit will enlighten us as to how we can best use our gifts and talents to minster to those in need around us. We pray to the Lord…

Heavenly Father, you have given your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, reign over your Kingdom. Through his intercession you have sent forth your Spirit through Mary and the Apostles to begin the work of your Church and to renew the face of the earth. Through that same Spirit, we ask you to renew the Church throughout the world, but especially in our own diocese of Kalamazoo. In this month, we especially call to mind and ask you to bear and increase within us the fruit of peace and activate within us the gift of understanding that we may more deeply understand the mysteries of your Kingdom, and your will for our lives that we more effectively and fruitfully bring the Good News of your love, mercy, and forgiveness to all whom we meet. We ask this through the same Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

October 10, 2021 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Link to 28th Sunday Readings

Focus on Fruit of Peace 
Kerygmatic preaching:
“They were exceedingly astonished, and said among themselves, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, for human beings, it is impossible, but all things are possible with God” (Translation note: Most English translations translate the Greek word “para” as “with” not “for”. This is important because obviously all things are possible for God, but the context is that Jesus, realizing the alarm and discouragement of his disciples, seeks to console and encourage them. He counsels them in frank terms to rely completely on God. This is a soteriological statement: limited and fallen man cannot save himself. The atonement of human sin and reconciliation of the human creation with his Creator can only be accomplished by his Creator, specifically in Christ Jesus who is both fully God and fully man).  When we think we can run our lives without God, we delude ourselves into thinking we’re fine. Little by little our life unravels. Often, it happens by such subtle degrees we are not even aware things are falling apart. Our emptiness and lack of peace increases so slowly we grow accustomed to it and consider it “just the way life is”. Jesus’ counsel is that when we fully rely on and trust in him, it is then that we will have the interior peace and joy God promises—in spite of every possible adversity.

Three Main Points

1. The disciples lose their interior peace because they become momentarily unclear that God loves them, and that they must rely solely upon him for their salvation.
2. As baptized disciples, we share in God’s work of salvation, but we must remember that is only through our cooperation with his offer of grace that our salvation is possible, not because we are “good people”. Jesus reminds us no one is “good” in the strictest sense before God’s infinite goodness.  It is not our goodness that saves us, but God’s.
3. By listening to and obeying Christ’s counsel, our peace is restored. The doing of God’s will goes counter to our natural egoistical desire to be our own god, the pope of our own life. What Jesus asks of us is not just hard, it is “impossible” without our full reliance (not just help) upon Him.

Week 1: Philippians 4:4-9
Week 2: Ephesians 4:7-32
Week 3: Proverbs 3:1-26
Week 4: Psalm 119: 97-112

Saint of the Month exemplifying the fruit of Peace: Saint Francis of Assisi
Video for Adult Catholics here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRfYVUdry40
Children’s Video here:  St. Francis of Assisi

Saint of the Month exemplifying the gift of Understanding: Saint Therese of Lisieux
Children’s Video here: St. Therese of Lisieux

Catechists, Religion Teachers and Parents:

1. Prepare for this activity by watching the video on Peace here: Finding Deep Peace With Jesus bearing in mind we cannot give what we don’t have. Peace starts from within and requires an acceptance of and trust in God’s will and Providence. Providence is based on trust in the words of Jesus he speaks in Matt 6:25-34, that he will take care of all our needs for the asking. “Our daily bread” in the prayer of the Our Father, is just that—daily bread. When the Israelites crossed the desert on their way to the Promised Land, God provided Manna when there was no food, but they were strictly prohibited from gathering more than one day’s worth. It would not last more than one day or it would rot—except, miraculously, on the day before each Sabbath, when they were to collect two day’s worth, since they were forbidden to work on the Sabbath, when it would last two days! Accepting God’s will also includes accepting his permissive will, meaning when he allows bad things to occur that good may come of it. Just as peace starts from within, so does conflict. Conflict and anxiety within us come when we distrust God’s love for us and fail to fully give ourselves to Him. Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a way of life and being.
2. See video on the biblical meaning of Shalom, here: Shalom-Peace
3. Read also from the Catechism CCC nos.  2302-2330.

Pre-K and K:

1. Tell or read to your child(ren) the story of Noah and the Flood. For the full story, read Gen 6:5-22; 7:1-24; 8:1-22; and 9:1-17. For a condensed version, read Gen 6:5-14,16-22; 7:1,4-5, 10-12,17-24; 8:1-17; 9:1; 8-17.  We recommend the condensed version for this age. Explain to your child(ren) that sin and disobedience to God’s law and commandments brings fighting, conflict, war, and evil within our families, our communities, and upon all of humanity, but obedience to God’s law and trust in Him brings us peace in our hearts, and harmony in our family and community. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) who gives us peace (John 14:27). Explain that many people don’t even believe that God is, let alone trust him enough to bring us peace, and that is why there is so much hate and conflict in the world. The solution is trust in Jesus Christ and giving ourselves completely to Him. It is our job to bring Christ to others in every way we can. We can do this most easily, by being kind to others, greeting them, helping them when they are in need, etc. Download the coloring page here: Noah Dove Olive Branch Coloring Page. Have your child color the page. Hang it on the refrigerator or other prominent place for the month.

Grades 1-3:

1. Review with your child(ren) that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are a group of qualities, characteristics or signs exhibited in a person’s life that show the Holy Spirit is living and active within them and that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit” and that the Holy Spirit is given to us when we are baptized and strengthened in us when we are confirmed.
2. Read to or have your child read the story of Noah’s Ark.  For the full story, read Gen 6:5-22; 7:1-24; 8:1-22; and 9:1-17. For a condensed version, read Gen 6:5-14,16-22; 7:1,4-5, 10-12,17-24; 8:1-17; 9:1; 8-17. We recommend the condensed version for this age.
3. Explain to them that sin and disobedience to God’s law and commandments bring fighting, unrest, conflict, war, and evil within our families, our communities, and upon all of humanity, but obedience to God’s law and trust in Him brings us peace in our hearts, and harmony in our family and community. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) who gives us peace (John 14:27). Explain that peace is difficult to achieve because, sadly, many people don’t even believe that God exists, let alone trust him enough to bring us peace, and so they miss out on his very real Divine Love and Mercy which we can perceive in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This failure of faith is why there is so much hatred and conflict in the world. The solution is trust in Jesus Christ, his Divine Love and Mercy, and giving ourselves completely to Him. It is our job to bring Christ to others in every way we can. We can do this most easily, by being kind to others, greeting them, helping them when they are in need, etc.
4. Have them explain in their own words what you went over above.  Make sure they grasp the principle that peace derives from faith and trust in Christ’s love and mercy and fails because of a lack of faith in God.  Remind them that we can have peace in our own hearts when we fully trust in God’s love and mercy.  

Grades 4-12:

1. Review with your child(ren)/students that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are a group of qualities, characteristics or signs exhibited in a person’s life that show the Holy Spirit is living and active within them and that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit” and that the Holy Spirit is given to us when we are baptized and strengthened in us when we are confirmed.
2. Have your child(ren)/students read the story of Noah’s Ark.  For the full story, read Gen 6:5-22; 7:1-24; 8:1-22; and 9:1-17. For a condensed version, read Gen 6:5-14,16-22; 7:1,4-5, 10-12,17-24; 8:1-17; 9:1; 8-17. We recommend the condensed version for this age. (Ensure they understand how to find the verses and chapters in the bible).
3. After they have read the story, have your child(ren)/students explain what conditions led to the punishment of the flood. Whether the story is historical in nature is not at play in this exercise. So, ignore the temptation to get drawn into that discussion. However, the short answer to that question is that it’s historicity is not the point of the story. Rather, the inclusion of the story in the book of Genesis’ narrative is primarily didactic in nature. That is, it’s of the genre of a teaching story with a moral point, but we should hesitate to call it an outright fable as there appears to be geological and cultural evidence that an ancient flood of great magnitude did occur. Regardless, the story’s Divine purpose deliberately links mankind’s rebellion with the sure justice of God.

In your discussion, point out that God was patient, and he provided a huge, obvious sign—the Ark—as a warning against their disobedience giving them ample time to repent, which the people refused to believe or heed. If they had, the story of Jonah and Nineveh in the book of Jonah assures us that God would not have sent the flood. While the punishment of the flood seems harsh on the surface, one must ponder how those who want to live in peace and God’s friendship can do so, when they are constantly threatened by those who refuse to?  This story is a prefigurement or type, that lays out for us the conditions necessary to live in eternal peace with God or eternal punishment separated from God. It is also a story of salvation---God’s saving action from those who would do harm to those who desire to do his will. 

Also explain that the natural human consequence of sin and disobedience to God’s law and commandments and life without Him bring chaos, fighting, unrest, conflict, war, and evil within our families, our communities, and upon all of humanity, but obedience to God’s law and trust in Him brings us peace in our hearts, and harmony in our family and community. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) who gives us peace (John 14:27). Explain that peace is difficult to achieve because, sadly, many people don’t even believe that God exists, let alone trust him enough to bring us peace, and so they miss out on his very real Divine Love and Mercy which we can perceive in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6).  Interior peace as Jesus gives it, is not possible without Him. Thus, it is the failure of faith that brings about the lack of peace in our hearts, that translates into unrest and conflict, which then brings about hatred, violence, and war.

The solution is trust in Jesus Christ and bringing others to him, establishing a loving relationship with him which occurs through prayer, being obedient to his commandments, participating in the sacraments, especially weekly Mass and confession which he gave us to cleanse our hearts and souls, trusting in his Divine Love and Mercy, and giving ourselves completely to Him. It is our job to bring Christ to others in every way we can. We can do this most easily, by being kind to others, greeting them, helping them when they are in need, etc. Doing these things, will bring peace in our hearts so that no matter how the devil tries to disturb our peace through events happening around us, the constant exercise of our wills trusting in God will keep us in peace.

Adult Reflection:
Regardless of how familiar you are with the story of Noah’s Ark, re-read it asking the Holy Spirit for greater insight and understanding.  For the full story, read Gen 6:5-22; 7:1-24; 8:1-22; and 9:1-17. For a condensed version, read Gen 6:5-14,16-22; 7:1,4-5, 10-12,17-24; 8:1-17; 9:1; 8-17.

1. The story of Noah’s Ark, regardless of its historicity, is included by Divine Inspiration in the Sacred Scriptures as both a warning to those who obstinately deny God’s love and mercy and who refuse to live in peace within the constraints of God’s just commandments, and as a blessing to those who trust in Him, in His Providence, and in his Divine Love and Mercy.
    
2. If we view this story superficially, we might be tempted to see an angry and vengeful god, stomping on his creation in a fit of rage like Godzilla stomping on Tokyo in those old colored movies of the 1970’s or like the child who throws a temper-tantrum because he didn’t get his way.  However, the mature view will understand the so-called, “God of the Old Testament” is the same God of the New Testament who is All-Loving and All-Merciful (For God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8).  If that is the case, then we must ponder what is really at issue here and seek to understand the story from God’s point of view, not ours. To do this will require our openness to the Holy Spirit, to God’s still, small voice which speaks to everyone of us if we are willing to listen carefully for it and ask the Holy Spirit to help us hear it.
    
3. Take a few moments to first ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart as you consider this passage. The art of pondering—as Mary pondered—doesn’t happen in an instant, or even in one sitting, but over time. So, it is important to take time to shut off the noise around you, your busy thoughts about the next thing you have to do, and when the still, small, voice comes, listen to it.

4. Ponder the passages you read from Noah’s perspective. Put yourself in his shoes. If your great desire was simply to live in God’s friendship and do his will, how might the effect of his “neighbors” affect your peace of heart and mind and ability to do so?  

5. In what ways does this passage show us our own situation in the world today? What is (are) the root cause(s) of our waywardness?

6. As you ponder, you may consider the following thoughts for your reflection:

• Consider that God waited a very long time—generations--before He took this drastic step. Consider that God provided a huge, obvious sign—the Ark—as a warning against their disobedience giving them ample time to repent, which the people still refused to believe or heed. Consider how God relented of his justice against the Ninevites in the story of Jonah in the book of Jonah because they repented.
• Consider that while the punishment of the flood seems harsh on the surface, one must ponder how those who want to live in peace and God’s friendship can do so, when they are constantly threatened by those who refuse to? 
• Consider this story is a prefigurement or type, that lays out for us the conditions necessary to live in eternal peace with God or eternal punishment separated from God. It is ultimately a story of salvation---God’s saving action from those who would do harm to those who desire to do his will and protection for those who do. 
• Consider the natural human consequences of sin and disobedience to God’s law and commandments, and how life without Him brings chaos, division, unrest, conflict, fighting, riots, war, division and lack of peace in our hearts, in our families, in our communities, and upon all of humanity.
• Consider that obedience to God’s law, to his commandments, to living in accordance not with our own ideas of justice but with God’s as revealed in the Scriptures and Church teaching and drawing close to God through prayer and trust in Him brings us peace in our hearts, and by sharing his love with others, it can bring harmony in our families and communities.
• Consider that Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) who gives us peace (John 14:27), not as the world gives peace, but as He does, which is far superior than the absence or conflict, or mere tolerance. Jesus said, “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6).  Interior peace as Jesus gives it, is not possible without Him. Thus, it is the failure of faith that brings about the lack of peace in our hearts, that translates into all the ills mentioned above, and faith that ultimately brings peace.

7. Open your heart and mind to God throughout this week. Pay attention to the “still, small, voice” within your heart that is the Holy Spirit calling you to deeper relationship with God.

Grades Pre-K- & K
From here forward for this grade level, we will watch one video until complete entitled, All About Jesus – Bible for Kids, the video should be watched in the assigned segments. Each segment starts with a recommended reading from the Bible that the segment will cover. However, the video covers that segment of the Bible, so if your child appears to lose interest in the reading (which is likely as the material will likely be greater than their understanding at this point) just watch the video segment. The video will not necessarily align with the month’s Gift of the Spirit. The goal for the child will be to come to a greater understanding of who God is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This video focuses on Jesus, but where the video touches on the action of the Holy Spirit and the relationship of Jesus with his Father, be sure to point out how the Holy Spirit acted in each situation, and Jesus’ trust in his Father.

1. Guide your child(ren) in a summary of what they watched to evaluate their comprehension. Allow them to do the talking. Guide as needed.
2. Download the following coloring page: https://www.thecatholickid.com/catholic-scissor-exercise-prek-nativity-cnt-mls/
3. Have your child(ren) complete the page by first coloring the page, then cutting along the dotted lines. Then paste the cut-out sections onto a colored piece of construction paper (blue or dark blue is recommended). Post in a prominent spot for the month (their room, the refrigerator, etc).  

Grades 1-3
Read to, or have your child(ren)/students read, the first reading and the Gospel for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). The Gospel is from Mark 12:28-34 which is the Gospel for October 31, 2021. The first reading is Deuteronomy 6:2-6. Then discuss with them the following:

1. Who were the Israelites? What part of the world did they live in? Who was Moses? Why was he important? What did God choose him to do?

2. Discuss the idea of the Israelites as God’s “chosen people”. In what way were they chosen? What was God’s purpose in choosing a people to himself? (He did this to distinguish those nations and their unjust laws and inhumane customs and traditions from the just laws God gives. See Deut 4:1-8).

3. Talk about or have your child(ren)/students tell you what they know a desert to be like.  What are its qualities? What would it be like to live in or travel on a long journey through a desert? What would you need to do so?  What does the story of Exodus say about how the Israelites were able to survive in the desert? How did they get food? How did they get water?

4. In the first reading, the Israelites had been in the desert for a long time, and they had received the Ten Commandments from God. This was a special gift from God to them as his chosen people. According to the reading, what does Moses (speaking on behalf of God) promise if the Israelites obey his commands? How does Moses say we are to love the Lord Our God?

5. In what ways is the gospel reading similar to the first reading? What does Jesus add in the gospel that is not in the first reading?

6. Explain that “understanding” is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Through our intellect or mind, we can grasp or understand the world around us and what is being said to us, but the gift of understanding given by the Holy Spirit goes deeper than what our minds can perceive and intellects grasp. In the spiritual gift of understanding, there is a grasping in our hearts what God is telling or showing us. This is not easily explained, but as an example, we can understand with our minds that in the mystery of Holy Communion that the bread and wine at the Mass become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit, but the understanding which is a gift of the Holy Spirit includes the elements of why God would do this for us, the very fact he would do this for us, as well as belief that it does such that we feel it in our soul, which moves us to love God therein. The true gift of understanding always incorporates an act of the will which is belief and movement in our hearts that what we understand draws us closer to God. It is not only the “what” that is understood, but the “why” with respect to God’s divine love for us and His ever seeking our good.
    
7. Have your child(ren)/students watch the child’s video above on Saint Therese of Lisieux. St. Therese was given the title, “Doctor of the Church” and is one of only four women so titled. A “Doctor of the Church” is not like a medical doctor but is a person of great understanding in matters of faith and of God’s love.  After watching the video, ask your child(ren)/students in what ways Saint Therese had understanding with her faith. What is her “little way”?

1. What are the connections between these two readings? (Note: Typically, for each Sunday, the Gospel for that Sunday shows how Christ or his teaching is the fulfillment of the type or pre-figurement seen in first reading if it is from the Old Testament.)  What does Jesus add in the gospel that is not in the first reading?

2. Have your teen(s)/students watch the following video on the archaeological evidence for everything Moses and the Israelites went through: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_VQ7rG638w

3. Who were the Israelites? What part of the world did they live in? Who was Moses? Why was he important? What did God choose him to do?

4. Discuss the idea of the Israelites as God’s “chosen people”. In what way were they chosen? What was God’s purpose in choosing a people to himself? (He did this to distinguish those nations and their unjust laws and inhumane customs and traditions from the just laws God gives. See Deut 4:1-8).

5. Talk about or have your child(ren)/students tell you what they know a desert to be like.  What are its qualities? What would it be like to live in or travel on a long journey through a desert? What would you need to do so?  What does the story of Exodus say about how the Israelites were able to survive in the desert? How did they get food? How did they get water?

6. In the first reading, the Israelites had been in the desert for a long time, and they had received the Ten Commandments from God. This was a special gift from God to them as his chosen people. According to the reading, what does Moses (speaking on behalf of God) promise if the Israelites obey his commands? How does Moses say we are to love the Lord Our God?

7. Explain that “understanding” is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Through our intellect or mind, we can grasp or understand the world around us and what is being said to us, but the gift of understanding given by the Holy Spirit goes deeper than what our minds can perceive and intellects grasp. In the spiritual gift of understanding, there is a grasping in our hearts what God is telling or showing us. This is not easily explained, but as an example, we can understand with our minds that in the mystery of Holy Communion that the bread and wine at the Mass become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit, but the understanding which is a gift of the Holy Spirit includes the elements of why God would do this for us, the very fact he would do this for us, as well as belief that it does such that we feel it in our soul, which moves us to love God therein. The true gift of understanding always incorporates an act of the will which is belief and movement in our hearts that what we understand draws us closer to God. It is not only the “what” that is understood, but the “why” with respect to God’s divine love for us and His ever seeking our good.
    
8. Have your child(ren)/students watch the following video on Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Little Way of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. St. Therese was given the title, “Doctor of the Church” and is one of only four women so titled. A “Doctor of the Church” is not like a medical doctor but is a person of great understanding in matters of faith and of God’s love.  After watching the video, ask your child(ren)/students in what ways Saint Therese had understanding with her faith. What is her “little way”? What are the little things in our life we can do to “march towards holiness”?

1. What are the connections between these two readings? (Note: Typically, for each Sunday, the Gospel for that Sunday shows how Christ or his teaching is the fulfillment of the type or pre-figurement seen in first reading if it is from the Old Testament.)  What does Jesus add in the gospel that is not in the first reading?

2. Have your teen(s)/students watch the following video on the archaeological evidence for everything Moses and the Israelites went through: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_VQ7rG638w

3. Who were the Israelites? What part of the world did they live in? Who was Moses? Why was he important? What did God choose him to do?

4. Discuss the idea of the Israelites as God’s “chosen people”. In what way were they chosen? What was God’s purpose in choosing a people to himself? (He did this to distinguish those nations and their unjust laws and inhumane customs and traditions from the just laws God gives. See Deut 4:1-8).

5. Talk about or have your teen(s)/students discuss the qualities of a desert? Have your teen(s)/students prepare a list of things they would need to survive a six-month journey in the desert.

6. After they prepare the list, then engage them in a discussion as to what items they think the Israelites realistically had with them as they traveled through one of the harshest deserts in the world for 40 years.  What does the story of Exodus say about how the Israelites were able to survive in the desert? How did they get food? How did they get water?

7. In the first reading, the Israelites had been in the desert for a long time, and they had received the Ten Commandments from God. This was a special gift from God to them as his chosen people. According to the reading, what does Moses (speaking on behalf of God) promise if the Israelites obey his commands? How does Moses say we are to love the Lord Our God?

8. Explain that “understanding” is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Through our intellect or mind, we can grasp or understand the world around us and what is being said to us, but the gift of understanding given by the Holy Spirit goes deeper than what our minds can perceive and intellects grasp. In the spiritual gift of understanding, there is a grasping in our hearts what God is telling or showing us. This is not easily explained, but as an example, we can understand with our minds that in the mystery of Holy Communion that the bread and wine at the Mass become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit, but the understanding which is a gift of the Holy Spirit includes the elements of why God would do this for us, the very fact he would do this for us, as well as belief that it does such that we feel it in our soul, which moves us to love God therein. The true gift of understanding always incorporates an act of the will which is belief and movement in our hearts that what we understand draws us closer to God. It is not only the “what” that is understood, but the “why” with respect to God’s divine love for us and His ever seeking our good.
    
9. Have your teen(s)/students watch the following video on Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Little Way of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. St. Therese was given the title, “Doctor of the Church” and is one of only four women so titled. A “Doctor of the Church” is not like a medical doctor but is a person of great understanding in matters of faith and of God’s love.  After watching the video, ask your child(ren)/students in what ways Saint Therese had understanding with her faith. What is her “little way”? What are the little things in our life we can do to “march towards holiness”?

1. What are the connections between these two readings? (Note: Typically, for each Sunday, the Gospel for that Sunday shows how Christ or his teaching is the fulfillment of the type or pre-figurement seen in first reading if it is from the Old Testament.)  What does Jesus add in the gospel that is not in the first reading?

2. Have your teen(s)/students watch the following video. It is nearly an hour long, so plan on watching the video in one or two parts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y-uiccIiSY&t=58s

3. After you have completed watching the video, discuss the idea of the Israelites as God’s “chosen people”. In what way were they chosen? What was God’s purpose in choosing a people to himself? (He did this to distinguish those nations and their unjust laws and inhumane customs and traditions from the just laws God gives. See Deut 4:1-8).

4. Have your teen(s)/students prepare a list of things they would need to survive a six-month journey in the harsh Sinai desert (or write in on the dry erase board as they give answers).

5. After the list is prepared, engage them in a discussion as to what items they think the Israelites realistically had with them as they traveled through one of the harshest deserts in the world for 40 years.  What does the story of Exodus say about how the Israelites were able to survive in the desert? How did they get food? How did they get water?

6. Propose the following question and engage them in discussion: If you were in this situation, not knowing the end of your journey, what would be on your mind? How would you react after months or years of wandering? In observing the ways God provided, would the overall experience  draw you closer to or farther from God?

7. “Manna” is a Hebrew word that literally means, “What is it?” The Church Fathers and Saints as well as scripture scholars today have long considered manna a “type” or “prefigurement” of the Holy Eucharist. How does the Hebrew meaning of the word “manna” aptly describe our understanding of the Holy Eucharist as defined by the Catechism in no. #1374?

8. In the first reading, the Israelites had been in the desert for a long time, and they had received the Ten Commandments from God. This was a special gift from God to them as his chosen people. According to the reading, what does Moses (speaking on behalf of God) promise if the Israelites obey his commands? How does Moses say we are to love the Lord Our God?

9. Explain that “understanding” is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Through our intellect or mind, we can grasp or understand the world around us and what is being said to us, but the gift of understanding given by the Holy Spirit goes deeper than what our minds can perceive and intellects grasp. In the spiritual gift of understanding, there is a grasping in our hearts what God is telling or showing us. This is not easily explained, but as an example, we can understand with our minds that in the mystery of Holy Communion that the bread and wine at the Mass become the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit, but the understanding which is a gift of the Holy Spirit includes the elements of why God would do this for us, the very fact he would do this for us, as well as belief that it does such that we feel it in our soul, which moves us to love God therein. The true gift of understanding always incorporates an act of the will which is belief and movement in our hearts that what we understand draws us closer to God. It is not only the “what” that is understood, but the “why” with respect to God’s divine love for us and His ever seeking our good.
   Have your teen(s)/students watch the following video on Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Little Way of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. St. Therese was given the title, “Doctor of the Church” and is one of only four women so titled. A “Doctor of the Church” is not like a medical doctor but is a person of great understanding in matters of faith and of God’s love.  After watching the video, ask your teen(s)/students in what ways Saint Therese had understanding with her faith. What is her “little way”? What are the little things in our life we can do to “march towards holiness”?

For Adults
St. Therese of Lisieux, France, was given the title, “Doctor of the Church” and is one of only four women so titled. A “Doctor of the Church” is a person of great understanding in matters of faith and the spirituality of God’s Divine love.  Since the Gift of the Spirit of the month is understanding, we will use St. Therese of Lisieux’s “Little Way” to Heaven. St. Therese of Lisieux is also known as “The Little Flower”, or “St. Therese of the Child Jesus”. She is not to be confused with St. Teresa of Avila who is from Spain.

The following series of four video talks was given by Fr. Terrance Chartier FFI (Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate) at a retreat for women in Bloomington, IN, Feb 7-9, 2020. If you are able to, set some time aside and use the following four videos as a mini-retreat. The first video is about a little over an hour. The other three are approximately 45 mins each. They should be viewed in order.
              
Video #1: 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life- #1 St. Therese's Little way
Video #2: 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life #2-St. Therese's Little Way
Video #3: 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life #3-St. Therese's Little Way
Video #4: 3 Stages of the Spiritual Life - #4/4 St. Therese's Little Way - Fr Terrance