SUBJECT: From Abraham to Moses

AIMS:

• To begin understanding Jewish roots of our worship – Jesus was a Jew
• To learn about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses and how did Israel end up in the slavery in Egypt.
• To introduce the events of Passover

During the Mass the Priest repeats words Jesus said during the Last Supper: “Take it and eat it, this is my Body which is given for you. Take it and drink it, this is my Blood that is poured for you…”
Jesus’s Last Supper was a celebration of the Passover. Passover is a celebration of the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
The events of Passover influenced the way Israel, Jesus (who was a Jew) and we worship God and practice faith. In order to understand Mass we must carefully study some of these events.
Please watch the Prince of Egypt movie.

Please pay attention to the following events:

• Moses’ encounter with the Burning Bush
• The 10th Plague (Sacrifice of lamb, smearing the doorposts with the blood of the lamb, the angel of death passing over…)
• The receiving of the 10 Commandment before the entry to Freedom, the Promised Land.

How did Israel end up in the slavery in Egypt?

Below is the short history…

CATECHESIS 6a

SUBJECT: Journey to Freedom I, Events on the Way from Slavery to Freedom

AIMS:

1. To understand that Jesus was born in Israel in the Jewish family, and to get to know and understand His teaching we must learn about Jewish religious and cultural roots.
2. To know and understand the events of Exodus: vocation of Moses, 10th Plague, 10 Commandments.
3. To understand that events on the road from slavery to the Promised Land had an influence on the way and the place in which Israel worshiped God and on the way we worship God.
4. To understand that the historical events of the Exodus are made present to all generations and therefore they are also made present in our lives.
5. To understand the meaning of “memorial” - making present.
6. To understand based on the calling of Moses, what is vocation and its importance on the road from slavery to freedom (vocation is listening and responding to God’s call, recognition and development of God’s gifts and talents and making them a gift to God and others).
7. To understand that sacrifice is the seal of the communion with God and people with each other, and that sacrifices were offered always for communion and also for thanksgiving.
8. To understand that in order to be truly free we need the Good Shepherd guidance but we also need LAW

Last session we made a link between the Bible and the liturgy. We learned that Good Shepherd calls us to a very special place – church, were he is present as a bread and wine. We learned the meaning of some of the most important gestures during the Mass; the gestures of mixing the wine with water and epiclesis.

In order to understand better what happens during the Mass we have to learn more from the Bible. We  watched  the movie “The Prince of Egypt” that tells us what  great things God had made for people by freeing them from slavery and leading them to the Promised land. We can read about these events in the Bible in the book of Exodus.

(Take 10 minutes and recall with children what happen in the movie. )
Why are these events important?

They are important, because if God did something once he did it for all generation. Historical events of the Exodus are made present in our lives.

These events are also important, because they have influenced the way Mary, Joseph and Jesus worshipped God and they also shape the meaning of our worship.

What is worship?  What does the word “worship” mean? Why do we worship God?

To worship means to actively respond to God’s love in our life, to keep the relationship with God.

What do you do if you want to keep the relationship with someone who cares for you very much?
(listen to them, take their advise, talk to them, help them, spend time with them, make time to be together, celebrate meals together, go to restaurant, coffee shop, read their letters, meet their friends)

Today we are going to look at three events that happened on the way from slavery to the Promised Land.

• Take puzzle and lay part SLAVERY, THE WAY, FREEDOM and  “Events on the way from slavery to freedom”

What are the three important events that helped people to leave the slavery and be truly free in the Promised Land?

Would they ever leave the slavery if it wouldn’t be for Moses hearing God in the burning bush calling him: Moses, Moses (We know that Good Shepherd calls us all the time, but it is so hard to hear his voice). Moses heard God’s calling and responded to it. He doubted his ability to bring people out of slavery. But with God everything is possible. God gave him gifts and talents to be fit for a job. He was with him all the time.

We have a special name when someone listens and responds to God’s calling. It is vocation. Vocation is a process of recognition and development of God’s gifts and talents in service to God and others 

• Place a puzzle with Vocation.

What was the second event that made them leave slavery? The sacrifice of lamb, doorposts smeared with blood stopped the Angel of Death and saved their life, and made them free to go!

• Place a puzzle with Sacrifice.

What was the third event that helped them to be truly free in the Promised Land?

They received 10 commandments – 10 ways to be fre.e

Ask the children if freedom means doing whatever we want? If they say "yes" you could tell them that in this case, you will get in the car and drive as you want, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left, on the pavement, etc. What will happen? There will be an accident, someone will suffer, someone may be killed.
Our freedom is limited by the freedom of another person and the limits are set by the law. We just had an example how important is the traffic law.
For the people to be free to live God commanded to not kill etc...

If you have time you may discuss with children the 10 commandments. Please do it according to the brochure.

• Place a puzzle with 10 Commandments.

CATECHESIS 6b

SUBJECT: Vocation

AIMS:

• To understand that the vocation is listening to God’s voice and responding to His call. It is a process of recognition and development of God’s gifts and talents in service to God and others. It is a response to the commandment that God gave the first people (which can be found on the first pages of the Bible in the Book of Genesis 1:28); “God blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it .. "*
• To understand that vocation is a first step to leave any slavery.
• To understand that work and making our work a gift to others brings fulfillment in our life, because we are made in the image of God, the Creator.
• To understand that our work has at least two objectives:
  I. Recognition and development of talents and gifts that God has given us (love of God and our self because of what we are worth in God)
  II. Service to God and people (love of God and neighbour - a continuation of the work of creation)
• To understand that despite the fact that slavery is not legal in modern days, people are “enslaved” when they do not care for God, themselves and others, when they neglect their duties and the relationship with God and family, when they spend too much time watching TV, surfing internet, playing games…
• To understand the story of Moses’ encounter with the Burning Bush and it’s relevance to us.

LISTENING AND REFLECTING TOGETHER:

Vocation is an on-going listening to God’s voice and responding to His call. It is a process of recognition and development of God’s gifts and talents in service to God and others.
It is a response to the commandment that God gave the first people (which can be found on the first pages of the Bible in the Book of Genesis 1:28); “God blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it .. "*

*Subdue the earth - is, to continue the work of creation, to create, to work, so the continually "created" world "serves" the people. 
God equips every person with gifts and talents to continue his work of creation.

• Please, read presentation “Made in the Image of God“ and pay attention, how God has expressed His satisfaction from everything He created with words (written in red)

Please, talk to children answering the following questions:

• What did God do during the first 6 days of Creation? (Please remember that for God “a thousand years are like a single day” Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8)
• How, do you think, did God feel when he saw how good what he created each day was?
• What do we know about God from the Genesis1? What is He like? (capable to do the incredible, beautiful, good things; creative; imaginative; hard working; drawing happiness from his work; self-giving and trusting – entrusted to people everything He created; working in the relationship “let us…”; needing to rest)
• What does it mean for us that we are made in His image? (We, too, draw our happiness from work, and making it a gift to others.)
• God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. Why, do you think, He spoke about Himself as “we”? (He is Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)
• God was creating in the relationship. What does it mean for us created in His image? (We are to continue His Creation in communion with Him and with each other)
• Do you remember who did God send to help Moses?

INVITING CHILDREN RESPONSES:

1. Children choose one day from the story of Creation, illustrate it, and write: eg.: Day One, GOD SAW IT WAS GOOD.

2. With the help of parents children write talents they received from God.

3. Children choose one day of their own life, illustrate it and describe what they did in order to develop their talents. Children write date and IT WAS GOOD.

4. Children choose one day of their life, illustrate and describe what they have done in service to God and other people (eg.: washing dishes, cleaning, visiting sick). Children write date and IT WAS GOOD.

5. Children choose one day of rest, they illustrate it and describe it.

LISTENING AND REFLECTING TOGETHER:

Vocation
God’s Calling - Dialogue with God

Narrator: Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law. Leading the flock beyond the wilderness, he came to the mountain of God, Horeb. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him as fire flaming out of a bush. When he looked, although the bush was on fire, it was not being consumed. So Moses decided:
Moses: “I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?”
Narrator: When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush:
God: Moses! Moses!
Moses: “Here I am.”
God: Do not come near! Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.

1. Why has God asked Moses to take his sandals off?
2. We do not take our sandals off when we pray at home or in the church. How should we behave when we talk to God?

God: I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

3. Abraham lived 700 years before Moses. God said’ I am the God…’ Shouldn’t he say ‘I was’ or ‘I have been’?  Why has God said “I am”?

God: I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry against their taskmasters, so I know well what they are suffering.
God: Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and  spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites. Now indeed the outcry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.
Narrator: But Moses said to God,
Moses: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

4. Why, do you think, God has chosen Moses to lead the Israelites from slavery to freedom? What abilities and talents has God given to Moses?
5. How were they developed? 
6. What abilities and talents has God given you? Who would you like to become when you grow up?
 How do you develop your talents? Do you work hard at school and at home?  
What, do you think, would God say to you if you would see him as a Burning Bush?
7. What is “vocation”? 
8. What is slavery? Do you know any “slaves”?

Narrator: God answered:
God: I will be with you
Moses:  “But, if I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what do I tell them?” 
God: I am who I am.
This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. This is my name forever this is my title for all generations.
Moses: “If you please, my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue.”  
God: Who gives one person speech?  Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, I will assist you in speaking and teach you what you are to say.
Exodus 4: 10-17 
Narrator: But he said,  
Moses: “If you please, my Lord, send someone else!”*
Narrator: Then the LORD became angry with Moses and said:
God: I know there is your brother, Aaron the Levite, who is a good speaker; even now he is on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will truly be glad. You will speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will assist both you and him in speaking and teach you both what you are to do. He will speak to the people for you: he will be your spokesman, and you will be as God to him.

9. Moses asked God several times to send someone else, why?
10. He doubted his ability to enter into dialogue with Pharaoh.
What did God tell him in answer?  
Do you doubt your abilities?
11. What is the recipe for self-confidence?

Some answers: 

3. God and Eternity are outside of our chronological time
4. Moses grew up as a free man.
5. Moses received good education at Pharaoh’s court.
7. Vocation is listening to God’s voice and responding to His call. It is a process of recognition and development of God’s gifts and talents in service to God and others 
It is a response to the commandment that God gave the first people (which can be found on the first pages of the Bible in the Book of Genesis 1:28); “God blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it .. "*
*Subdue the earth - is, to continue the work of creation, to create, to work, so the continually "created" world "serves" the people. 
God equips every person in talents and gifts to continue his work of creation.
Our work has at least two objectives:
I. Recognition and development of talents and gifts that God has given us (love of God and our self because of what we are worth in God)
II. Service to God and people (love of God and neighbour - a continuation of the work of creation)
8. Slavery is not legal in modern days. But we often say that people are “enslaved” when they do not care for God, themselves and others, when they neglect their duties and the relationship with God and family, when they spend too much time watching TV, surfing internet, playing games…

10. God told him that:
It is God that gives speech, lips and everything Moses will need
He will be always present
He will send Aaron (other people to support him)

11. On-going dialogue with God (prayer) helps us to be confident while relying on his gifts, His presence and the support of other people.

CATECHESIS 6c

SUBJECT: Sacrifice, part 1

AIMS:

• To understand that sacrifice is the seal of the communion with God and people with each other, and that sacrifices were offered always for communion and also for thanksgiving.
• To understand the meaning of “memorial” - making present.

Jewish celebratory meal was associated with a form of a sacrifice.

• Why did people offer sacrifice?

Sacrifice has always expressed communion with God, and communion among participants

Communion is a relationship of unconditional self-giving com in Latin – with, union – unity, becoming one
The relationship of the Good Shepherd and the sheep is the example of communion. The Good Shepherd gives his whole life for sheep...
It was customary to offer sacrifice to end the fight and, associated with it, the feeling of revenge, hatred and resentment and to establish communion and peace between various tribes in ancient Israel. At the beginning of the celebratory meal the leaders of both tribes broke the lamb holding it by front and hind legs. They walked in the blood of the lamb while saying: “Let it happen to us as it happens to this lamb if we break this communion”. Then the lamb was cooked and eaten by all members of both tribes.
Communion with God and among the people in the tribes was constituted and celebrated.

Thanksgiving (in Greek -Eucharistia) In addition to communion people have offered sacrifice as thanksgiving for being saved from death, fatal illness or from oppression.

• What was important during the sacrificial ritual?

Memorial - making present all that God has been doing for people in the past, present and the future; the events of the Past and the Future are made present in the Eternal NOW
Bringing to mind the process of redemption – how was the person saved by God.

• What is “a day of remembrance”, a “memorial day”, or “doing something in memory”?

To understand this, we need to remind ourselves, that God and Eternity are outside of chronological time. "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
During the celebration of the memorial of the Passover, when people recall the events of sacred history, they enter, not only into the past, but also, in some sense, into the actuality of what happened. The past deliverance and the life-giving love of God are made present as a timeless, eternal event.