8th Apr Per 6 CATECHISM CL XA, XC, XE

Good Morning!

How are you doing?
     How did you find the online classes? How did you find my last class?
              Did you feel you could follow what I was asking you to do?
                      - important - take the time to read and understand!
                      Have you any questions?
I'd like to hear your feedback - this will help the classes become meaningful for you! Thank you!

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!

This may be a long blog - because, toward the latter half (Part B), I'm giving you some help to reflect on Jesus'life from Thursday to Sunday - so you can take the sections of the class on those days.

PART A
So....... were you able to practice some listening to your self over the last 6 days? 
It has been 6 days since our last class! Plenty of holidays! 

However, kindly practice what we learn in catechism - this is not for a test! My catechism class does not do the inter-school Class X catechism test at the end of the year! But, please buy the Catechism textbook - it's very worthwhile reading and knowing! 

Why don't I ask my class to do the inter-school catechism test? You WILL BE DOING A CATECHISM TEST which I give you .....gradually you'll know what it's about. Remember the catechism we learn is for our living - remember that Jesus said "It's not those who say to me 'Lord! Lord! who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but those who do the will of my Father in Heaven" Mt 7: 21

            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 !!! (these lockdown days are a good opportunity)

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 ! This is the 15th day - we have only 6 more to go! 
• but more importantly, learning to listen to ourselves and 
•  being in touch with our feelings, 
• naming our feelings and 
• appropriately communicating our feelings to others 

are very important life skills - like skills that 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. [listening to others is difficult - often doing is easier !!! - but not effective !!!!]

PART B (matter from the 9th to the 12th April may be done on those days)
In many Christian Churches - since the 5th April and up to the 12th April - people reflect on the part of Jesus'life around his Suffering, death and Resurrection.

• On Sunday, the 5th April - the reflection was on Jesus'entry into Jerusalem
• If you haven't already, you may read the Gospel of St John, Ch 12 vs 12 to 15
• The Sunday at the beginning of this week is called Palm Sunday and traditionally Christians take a procession carrying branches to re-enact that scene.
• On Thursday, the 9th April - the reflection is on the Last Meal Jesus had with his closest followers - please read 2 texts :
• Mt 26 : 17 to 29 - the meal - sharing of the bread and wine   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8RmJlwwa0g (watch the video)
• Jn 13 : 1 - 15 - Jesus washes the feet of his disciples   https://youtu.be/oZ4gDLNvbQA (please watch this video)
• On Thursday night we reflect and pray on Jesus'agony in the Garden: Mt26: 30-46 https://youtu.be/goR5FO1vge8?t=12  (please watch the video)
• On Friday, the 10th April - the reflection is on the trials, scourging, way of the cross and the death of Jesus - please read and reflect on Jn18:1 to Jn19:42   https://youtu.be/50IiF1rTTGQ?t=17 (please watch from 5:08:57 to 6:03:10)
• On Saturday, the 11th April - we reflect with Jesus'closest followers and his mother and wonder what it must have been for them - now that Jesus had died. Ever been with a family where a member of the family has just deceased - suddenly - prematurely?
• On Sunday, the 12th April - we reflect on the Resurrection of Jesus EASTER : Jn20:1-9   https://youtu.be/50IiF1rTTGQ?t=17 (please watch from 6:03:10 to 6:18:00)

 Take care ! Thank you 🙏