1st May Class XI Catechism

Good morning! 😊

This is the first day of the month of May! All the best for the month! There's much to look forward to - the restrictions to our movements will ease - slowly - but they will! So, the really challenging part of the lockdown is over - if you and I keep the precautions and encourage others to do so, most probably, life will be able to crawl back to normal !!!

Today's also May Day - Labour day - while we continue to let this day remind us of the common humanity we share with those who do manual work - this year - we particularly appreciate those who have been faithful to their duties - gone beyond the call of duty and even risked their lives so that those who who are suffering can be saved - we are grateful particularly for healthcare workers, but also for those in services which have brought basic requirements to those in need and those who have had to ensure we kept the orders faithfully! Let's be grateful, pray for them and hope that in our own way we can be like them in our work.

So, let's p[ut a smile to it and be positive!👍👍

REVIEW
You've been doing many subjects - so let's start by remembering what we've been doing in catechism

• we're taking time to be in touch with ourselves - being aware and naming our feelings
• we also do this by making "Heartfulness" a regular practice in our lives
• That's opening our hearts to ourselves and to God
• We also try and understand more about Jesus - these days - since it's after Easter we're focusing on what the stories of the Resurrection can teach us.

So, you would want - a pair of ear-phones and the A4 sheet on which we were working - to draw the river of your life (thus far)

STEP 1
Today, we want to first do our mindfulness meditation in a different way today

• however, if you would still like the assistance of the guided heartfulness - please link onto that link - it's at the end of this post.
• if you would like something different - this time - you will just listen to 5 minutes of gentle music and you will guide your own awareness of your body from the tips of your toes to the top of your head 
• do this by clicking this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6_akBtKZdE

STEP 2
Let's now - turn to the A4 sheet on which each of us is going to draw the river of your life over the last 16 years

• have you been able to note at least one incident which you remember on each of the 4 sections? (0-4yrs; 5-8yrs; 9-12yrs; 13-16yrs)
• if not think for some time
• this is going to be a personal sheet 
• feel free to write/draw
• keep the sheet in a place where you are fairly sure that no one else will chance on it
• when you are ready - you think you have remembered something - you don't need to remember everything - remember some now - when we move ahead you'll remember more
• don't think that this is an exercise which will end in a few classes
• this is a psychological tool which you can use for life
• we each need to listen to ourselves
• we each need to help ourselves heal within
• at 9.25 (or when you have 15 mins more of the class left) - go to step 3

STEP 3
Keeping what we have just thought of in mind, let's consider Jesus' appearances to his disciples at his Resurrection

• Jesus appearing to Martha and Mary (Jn 20 : 1, 11-18)
• Jesus appearing to Peter and John (Jn 20 : 1 - 10)
• Jesus appearing to the disciples when they went out fishing (Jn 21 : 1 - 14)
• do you remember these stories?
• If not, please read the stories in the Bible - as noted
• In all these stories Jesus' dearest friends experience the risen Jesus
• They were all of them grief-stricken at his death; they were dejected; they were even scared
• they were like so many people who are grieving for someone who was dear to them and who has died.
• they remembered Jesus
• they wanted to be at his tomb
• they wanted to be doing what they used to do when he was with them - fishing!
• they began to talk to each other and to others about how they felt
• they began thinking about him and what he said
• as they were experiencing these feelings and going through these memories, something happened
• something moved in their hearts
• they knew that Jesus was not a dead story 
• the experience became more and more powerful
• they had to have the experience a few times
• they experienced the resurrection of Jesus
• You are invited to experience Jesus - alive and with you and among us - Jesus Risen!
• You are invited to 
• get to know Jesus
• let Jesus walk with you in your life
• this will happen gradually with practice
• that's what catechism helps you with
• that's what family prayer helps you with
• that's what family prayer helps you with
• that's what church services are meant to help you with.
• Are you willing to accept the invitation?
• How do you accept the invitation?
• by increasing in awareness of yourself
• by welcoming Jesus to be with you in your awareness of yourself
• by reading the scriptures and letting Jesus - the "Word of God" help you live your life to the full.

So, Long ! Take care 🙏

Resource : Heartfulness Guided meditation : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G42Z7-vZvw