18th Apr Per 3 XI Catechism

Good Morning!

I trust that all of you are doing well - if you are - grand! - if you're not - that's okay too!😀😃😣😰😵😨

Reminder - if you haven't done so already - please enter your name in the "Comment" space - kindly do this each time you log into the blog post for the class - Thank you 🙏.
Once again, a reminder that when you are on social media (and this interaction is the use of social media for education), we are reminded that this is a public space and that we are called on to be our best selves - so kindly communicate appropriately at all times - in doing so you respecting yourself and all of us. Thank you!

Please also note that during the time of the class, I shall be online acknowledging your attendance and alert for any question on what we are discussing.

Before we begin the main focus of our lesson, click on this link and watch the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFmO6a0fRs8

How did you find that video? Wasn't it amazing? That's to remind you of what we're trying to do during Catechism - come to that great understanding that Albert Einstein and truly great persons discover - what's really important in life. We come to that realization gradually, the catechism classes are to help you on your journey to this realisation !

So.......let's continue where we left off in our last class
        were you able to practice some listening to your self?
            were you able to better name your feelings?
This will take time - and you will become better at it with practice.

Please note that those who like expressing themselves through art, designing (craft/carpentry/designing clothes.......) - these are also means of getting in touch with your feelings - especially when you're working at these QUIETLY !!!

So, remember why we've begun learning to listen to ourselves and our feelings? .........

• because we have been put into a different experience - we have been called upon to keep ourselves at home! For so long ! We're in the 2nd phase of the lockdown and we need to realise that our learning from home and social distancing may continue for longer than that.
• but more importantly, learning to listen to ourselves and be in touch with our feelings, name our feelings and appropriately communicate our feelings to others are very important life skills - like skills which will go a long way to helping us in relating to ourselves and others! These are very important skills

So, today, we're also going to start (rather surely continue - because you have learned to be aware of others to a greater or lesser degree 🙏 - but we can always develop the skill) learning to be aware of others - especially those around us!

• Notice the people around you - notice, try not to judge (remember that ego !) - notice
• Hear them.... listen to what they are saying .....not easy..... often we have so much happening within us that we can't notice, hear and listen!
• This is a life-long work on its own - being FREE enough to set aside my own feelings and concerns and noticing others, even letting others speak and then trying to listen to what they mean to say!
• You'll notice that many of us don't say things as we truly experience them - the communication comes out wrong - and then there are problems - we hurt others - we disappoint ourselves, etc., etc. I'm talking to you from my own experience! None of us are alone in this!

How do we do this? Well,

• we first have to listen to ourselves - so keep practicing that - remember that Jesus tells us to "Love your neighbour as yourself" Mt 22: 37 - so we need to love ourselves first!
• but the ego which has been getting stronger since we tried learning how to live in a challenging world, doesn't let us do this easily - so we need to practice another exercise!
• so..... here we go! click onto this .........https://youtu.be/rmwqL34FCjA - remember this? We have over the last 2 years encouraged you to practice this art - kindly make it a life habit - you will have learned an extraordinary life skill!
• now, having given attention to your self - look at those around you - just OBSERVE - don't JUDGE - look lovingly at them - they are the people who love you the most in this world - do you notice how they are feeling about being in this lockdown? What are their feelings? What are their concerns? At this stage don't worry about you will do - this is not about asking you to do anything for them - it's about being aware of them - being open to listening to them - understanding them - that's really so much more than doing things for people - the doing will follow. [It's difficult - often doing is easier !!! - but not effective !!!!]

Remember that we're in the Easter Season and these days we're reflecting on the experience of the disciplines of Jesus'resurrection. Today we reflect on the Gospel of St Mark 16 : 9 - 15. Please read it - open your family Bible or open the same on the mobile.

We have various feelings noted there - sadness, disbelief, stubbornness, amazement, confusion - yet Jesus tells these people with all these very ordinary feelings to "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News" - Jesus is also asking us - taking us as we are - and calling us to believe in him and be a messenger of His Good News - remember - we mostly proclaim Jesus'Good News by the way we live (words only have meaning when they are matched by our actions).

It's a necessary Christian practice to read the Bible daily. In addition, during these times we cannot have Church services - so we are required to keep our faith alive by taking responsibility to personally and as a family to read the Bible and to pray. You may find the following readings helpful over the next few days :

19th Apr : Jn 20 : 19-31

20th Apr : Mt 28 : 1 - 10

21st Apr : Lk 24 : 13 - 32

Thank you ! All the best till we have the next class ! 🙏