Religious Education - Children
Catechist BlogOur Choice
In today’s readings we hear from the Book of Jonah and Jesus’ reference to “the sign of Jonah.” I think we have been conditioned to think: “Jonah, three days in the belly of the whale. Jesus, three days in the tomb. Ok, the “sign of Jonah” must be Jesus’...
Prayer
In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us, His disciples, how to pray and what words to use. We pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom in these words: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” God’s Kingdom is present where God’s will is being done. Jesus “embodies” this pray...
Judgement
How will we be judged? What if someone is not baptized or born again, can they be saved? What about someone who is an atheist, can they be saved? In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches that the criterion of judgement is simple and challenging; “whatever you did for one of...
Fasting
When and how should we fast? In today’s first reading Isaiah tells us that a true fast is not just refraining from food but refraining from “your own pursuits, and drive[ing] all your laborers.” A true fast is refraining from a “quarrel and fight.” A true fast is...
The Choice is Ours
God presents to us two choices. In the First Reading, Moses lays out two choices that the Israelites have: life or death. Life with God through obedience to God’s precepts; a life that comes from being in a relationship with God. Or death through disobedience; a death...
More precious than gold
Just last Friday, the first reading was from the Letter of James, in which he admonished the faithful to endure: “Indeed we call blessed those who have persevered” (James 5:11). In yesterday’s first reading we listened to the opening passage from the First Letter of...
Praise
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Today’s first reading from 1 Peter begins with praise of God: “Blessed be God…” To “bless” God means to praise God. Peter then gives us the reason for praising God. We praise God because he has given us new...
Following the Path Together
“Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge is standing before the gates.” At first glance, I thought this did not happen much. However, reflecting on it, I think it probably happens more than you and I...
Weep and Wail
The Epistle of James is very tough on the rich as we hear in today’s first reading: “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away…” James seems to be echoing the teaching of Jesus: “But woe to you who are rich, for you...
What life will be like…
Today’s first reading continues to work its way through the Letter of James. 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”— 14 you have no idea what your life will be like...