Religious Education - Children
Catechist BlogBeing Born Again
This second week of Easter time we are looking at the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in the readings from the Gospel. Nicodemus was a pharisee. He was well educated, respected, and had an important position in the community. He was an expert on religious...
Born Again
What is necessary for salvation? This question is faced by all of us, including the Jewish Pharisee Nicodemus. Today’s Gospel begins not with Nicodemus asking this question but acknowledging the authority of Jesus: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come...
Recognition
Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus in the garden. The folks walking to Emmaus did not recognize Him on the road. In today’s gospel the apostles don’t recognize Jesus. There seems to be a lot of that going around. Perhaps the seashore encounter is different. The...
The First Words
Today we hear the first words from the risen Christ for that first Christian community in Jerusalem. That community was in hiding due to fear of being arrested and also the community was in the midst of a crushing sadness and grief due to Jesus’ passion and death. His...
God in the Pots
In the gospel reading for today we share the story of the two disciples on that first Easter heading home discouraged by the events that had unfolded with the death of Jesus. By the time that Cleopas and his unnamed companion had walked with Jesus the seven miles from...
The Empty Tomb
We continue to celebrate Easter Week, the Week of Light. We look at Mary Magdalena, the first evangelist. She went to the tomb sure in her expectations to find death. She was full of sadness, mourning, and loss. Then she tried to explain the fact of the empty tomb...
Do Not be Afraid
In today’s Gospel we hear the story of the women’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus. Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” came to the tomb early in the morning and found it empty. As the ran from the tomb the resurrected Jesus appeared to them first with words of...
In the Shadows
The gospel reading for the Wednesday of Holy week is always about Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. The day has the unofficial title of “Spy Wednesday.” The story is well known. Judas accepts 30 pieces of silver from the religious leadership of Jerusalem to inform...
Embracing Betrayal
Remembering important events during the Last Supper, John records some long discourses during that meal. Today we look at an outstanding moment from that night. This time the words and actions are short, but very powerful. Where is the glory of God? The answer is...
Martha, Mary, Lazarus
In today’s Gospel we once again hear about Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. We already heard about these three family members in chapter 11, the story of the “Raising of Lazarus.” That chapter began by introducing those two sisters and their brother: “Now a man was ill,...