28th Apr Cl XII Catechism

Good Morning 😊
Congratulations! We've come through a month of the lockdown 👍 Have you counted all the adjustments you have made to your life? They're so many! Please remember to compliment yourself - do you do something to treat yourself to for having made the adjustments every day? Do so! If we don't commend ourselves how can we expect others to do so? 😊😊😊

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 are respecting yourself and all of us. Thank you!

I thank those who have spent a moment to jot down a bit more than the very welcome "Good Morning Brother" - thank you for that - but can I have a very brief communication - some comment or interaction on some of the work we're doing? I'll really appreciate that! Thanks, in advance!

By the way, do you get to see my reply to you "Good Morning"?

REVIEW
So, let's think about what we're trying to do in our catechism classes :

• we're taking a forward look at our lives - from today - looking into the future
• we're doing it with the help of a drawing - the river of our lives
• we're trying to understand the Resurrection experience
• we know that this is the central experience to us Christians
• but that's in our minds
• how is this experience going to become meaningful for us?

STEP 1

To help us do both of these, we need to develop the ability to be at ease with ourselves

• while most people would say that they are at ease with themselves
• that is not true
• most of us are ill at ease with ourselves
• or most of us are on our journey to being in touch with ourselves and accepting ourselves and finally loving ourselves!

So how do we get to be at ease with ourselves ?

• Over the last year or so, your teachers have been practicing Heartfulness with you - this practice is widely seen as probably the most important practice for life. It is also called "Mindfulness", "Awareness". "Meditation".

• what are we doing ? taking time to listen to ourselves!
• surprise - we don't find this easy!
• we prefer to do things ! (rather than be with myself !!!!!)
• we find it hard to be with ourselves !!!!!!!
• But the one person we better get to learn to live with well - is ourselves - we can't run - and we shouldn't try - to run away from ourselves!
• so I'm going to invite you to click on this link - and follow the directions   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G42Z7-vZvw
• this is listening to our bodies - this is the beginning!
• please try and make this a daily practice

STEP 2
Today, we're going to see a video of the appearance of the Jesus to the disciples who were walking to Emmaus. You can read it in the Gospel of St Luke Ch 24 vs 13 onwards - you are encouraged to read it and also to click on this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07GCSW1CQUg

What do you see and hear?

• 2 persons who knew Jesus
• confused as to why he had to die
• Jesus'such a promising person
• Jesus died such a terrible death!
• What experience in your life - now - is confusing or upsetting you?
• could it be the limiting experience of the lockdown
• could it be some frustration about having to do your study?
• could it be a concern of your future or the future of those close to you - or the future of our world?
• could it be the upset of not being able to be with some friend / friends?
• could it confusion about your growing up?
• ......... there are many life experiences
• let the feelings about this experience come to you - try and not let those feelings overpower you
• request Jesus to be with you as you feel the disturbance of these experiences
• try and keep ideas away - just allow yourself to feel your feelings
• ask Jesus to help you show you the way.........

What did Jesus teach the disciples in this passage?

• Jesus taught them to
• go to the scriptures (the Bible) 
• he showed them that the scripture will be a light for our lives
• Do you want to feel your heart burning - with the experience of God with you? 
• invite him to join you (like we did with the Heartfulness and awareness)
• read the scriptures - like we did in step 2 and let Jesus (Jesus is called the "Word") show you what's good for your life!
• immediately or slowly if you do this - you will experience the risen Jesus.

We'll be practicing to do this during our catechism lessons.

I meet you next on the 30th Apr - so could you - on the 29th spend a bit of time

• doing a heartfulness meditation (use the link, if you need the help)
• spend some time being aware of how you are - not only disturbing things - sometimes you will surely feel full of enthusiasm because of something nice
• invite Jesus to be with you
• read the given passage
• take some time to let Jesus - the "Word of God" speak to you.

Reflection Reading: Acts 8 : 1 - 8 - the reading shows how through difficult times God opens other opportunities in our lives. Think - and ponder with Jesus - what unexpected opportunities could your present circumstances be offering you? Are you ready to accept these?

All the best ✋