Stage 2Module (Draft)

Year 3

Lent to Easter

Lent to Easter

Module Focus

In this module students will explore the themes of Lent and Easter in a creative and integrated way. Through participation and involvement in the module as well as in whole school Lent and Easter activities and celebrations the students will explore how Jesus reached out to others through his relationships, actions, feelings, healing, lifestyle and word.

Further, students will recall the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, as well as exploring the Easter Vigil ceremony and will gain an awareness of the stories, actions and symbols of Lent and Easter. Through participating in the Church’s re-enactment of these events the students will become acutely aware of the intense, all consuming love that Jesus had for the Father and reflect on how and why Catholics are called to remember and celebrate Jesus’ Passover from death to new life each time Eucharist is celebrated.

Finally, students will find that by exploring the gospel accounts of Jesus’ Resurrection they will be able to relate the Resurrection to their own experiences of 'new life' and in turn, how this is related to the Church's celebration of the mystery of Jesus' dying and rising in the liturgies of Holy Week and the Easter season. In particular students will study John’s joyful recount of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples and the command he gives to them to go out into the world to spread his Father’s peace.

Outcomes

GRHD S2.1: Identifies and describes God’s activity in the world today.
J S2.2: Names and describes the presence of Jesus in the world today
PS S2.4b: Plans and participates in communal celebration
Learn About / Learn To
GRHD S2.1:
  • The world’s need for healing and forgiveness
  • Christian values
  • The value of life
J S2.2:
  • The presence of Jesus in community
  • Jesus’ actions as examples of how disciples live
  • The characteristics of Christianity that Jesus taught
  • The call to discipleship
  • Events, symbols and ceremonies of Holy Week
PS S2.4a:
  • Eucharistic celebrations
  • Ways Jesus is present in the Church’s celebration of the sacraments
/ GRHD S2.1:
  • Outline and communicate ways of saying ‘sorry’
  • Reflect upon and recount examples of forgiveness and healing
  • Compare and contrast Christian and non-Christian responses
J S2.2:
  • Name ways in which Jesus’ presence is celebrated
  • Pose questions and talk about the implications of the actions of Jesus for the world today
  • Identify ways to live like Jesus
  • Express an understanding of discipleship
  • Talk about experiencing Jesus through relationships
PS S2.4a:
  • Describe, explain and participate in important celebrations of the Church
  • Participate in a variety of prayer forms
  • Appreciate prayer as a means of communication with God

DISCIPLESHIP CHALLENGE
  • Students are challenged to respond as Christians to the presence of God in the world
  • Students are challenged to recognise Jesus in others and treat them accordingly
  • Students are challenged to participate in liturgical celebrations

Catholic Discipleship

The recognition of Jesus in others may well be one of the most difficult tenets in Christianity. Children will be more able to do this if they sense others can recognise Jesus in them.

Until now students have studied Jesus’ words and actions whilst he celebrated his ministry on earth. They have heard how Jesus was able to alleviate the suffering of others; curing the sick and disabled, telling meaningful stories, and how he showed his concern for the weak and marginalised. Now the students are confronted with a seemingly helpless Jesus, unable to defend himself against the claims of jealous and cruel others.

The focus for the students during the Easter Triduum will be on preparing for new life and how they as humans are capable of being inclusive and welcoming to all. They were introduced to the importance of the celebration of Eucharist as an opportunity to share in Christ’s meal where all are called to the table as equals. The module further seeks to build on this and encourage students to begin to ask the questions that develop after the actual resurrection accounts. Whilst knowledge of the Resurrection story is crucial, students are at an age where they must be supported to reflect on deeper questions. These questions include exploring where the risen Jesus is present in their lives? Why Catholics believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist? What is the purpose of receiving Jesus during Eucharistic celebrations?

Prayer Focus

IgnatianExamen

To be a disciple of Jesus, one should reflect on life… to embrace the joys, to acknowledge the wrongs, to say sorry and to look forward to another day, asking for grace to do so. Jesus prayed and demonstrated to his disciples that it was important to pray and to be reflective. As a faithful Jew, prayer and reflection on Scripture were essential elements of his life. When his disciples said, “Master, show us how to pray”, Jesus gave them the Lord ’s Prayer, which contained praise, sorrow, and intercession. He also prayed in different places, in the temple,in the wilderness and in the garden. The IgnatianExamen is a simple and reflective way to pray as a disciple of Jesus.

“The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience.

The method presented here is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible”. 4)There are also Apps available to guide the prayer.

There are several ways to adapt the IgnatianExamen, which lends itself beautifully to prayer for children.

Here is a simple way:

  1. Recall the events of your day- how did your heart feel throughout this day?
  2. What were the joyful and happy things which occurred today?
  3. Say ‘thank you’ to God for these blessings.
  4. Was there something today that upset me or hurt my heart? Do I need to say ‘sorry’ to God about what I did and know that I am forgiven.
  5. What particular grace or blessing do I ask God for so I can go forward tomorrow?

Pray the “Glory be to the Father”.

Core Scripture

Mt 9:1-15Cure, Call, Eating with sinners, fasting.

Jn 13: 1-15; Jn 18:1-19:42 Holy Thursday and Good Friday

Mk 16: 1-8; Jn 20:1-9; The resurrection of Jesus

Jn 20: 19-21 Appearances to the disciples

Associated Scripture

Mk8 :22-25 Jesus cures a blind man

Mk 2 1-12 Jesus heals a paralytic

Matt 8:1-3Jesus cleanses a Leper

Core Scripture in Context

Matthew 9:1-15

These verses show Jesus in the midst of his ministry, curing the sick, eating with sinners and calling Matthew, a social outcast, to be his disciple. The evangelising mission of the Church is modelled here by its founder: reaching out and transforming the world by actions, and by acceptance of others. Jesus’ statement regarding penance and fasting does not diminish the importance of the practice. Rather, it alerts us to the fact that there is a time for that. In the Church Lent is specifically one of those times, calling us to look closely at the way we conduct our lives as disciples of Jesus.

Jn 13: 1-15

Through the washing of the disciples’ feet, an act of loving service, the true meaning of Jesus’ death is recognised. Christ gives his disciples an example of the extent of loving service they are asked to perform for others.

Jn 18: 1-19:42

These particular chapters provide the reader with insights into the ‘Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus’. The scene has shifted from sharing a meal at the Last Supper to the Mount of Olives where Jesus is arrested. After Jesus’ arrest and whilst he is being questioned by Pilate, Peter denies Jesus three times. This denial was as predicted at the Last Supper. John’s Gospel then moves to the story of Jesus’ Trial before Pilate. John’s gospel highlights the conflict between the Jewish leaders and Jesus. John’s account of the Crucifixion has, unlike the other Gospels, Jesus carrying the cross himself. The closing verses of this chapter focus on the burial of Jesus.

The resurrection

The whole of the Easter Vigil points to this Gospel passage. The drama of the morning is mirrored in the drama of the liturgy. The theme of light, in the presence of the dawn and the person of the Risen Lord, prevails as it overcomes the darkness of sin and despair. We, too, are filled with awe and joy in our knowledge of the resurrection and our participation in its mystery.

Jn 20:1-9 The resurrection

John’s account of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples is simply yet joyfully written. The disciples are in a state of anxiety, their leader has been taken from them and they believe that their world has changed, altered forever. The disciples also fear for their lives. So imagine their great joy when Jesus appeared to them, bearing his scars as a reminder of his suffering whilst proclaiming the words, ‘Peace be with you’. Jesus does not leave them wondering as to what they are to do next, there is no ambiguity in the words he shares with them; he commands them gently yet firmly that he is sending them into the world to perform the same work as the Father had sent him to do.

Mk 16:1-8The Resurrection

The story of the resurrection must be seen in context of the whole story of Holy Week, and in fact of Jesus’ entire life and death. The resurrection brings to light our salvation in the midst of suffering. The cross and the resurrection are united, they cannot be seen alone. The mystery of new life comes from Jesus’ suffering.

The Paschal Mystery (the living, dying and rising of Jesus) is at work within us both individually and collectively as we embrace brokenness in our world, knowing that within the pain lives hope. Pope Benedict XVI says that the resurrection is a proclamation of life. “True life –our salvation- can only be found in the reconciliation, freedom and love which are God’s gracious gift. The resurrection holds a message of hope, of transformation and calls us like the people of Israel to “choose life” (Dt 30:19) Homily in USA, Apr 20, 2008@

Catechism of the Catholic Church for teacher reference

nn. 548-549 Signs of the Kingdom

Compendium # 108 Why did Jesus manifest the Kingdom by means of signs andmiracles?

n. 588 -589 Jesus eats with sinners; Jesus on fasting

Compendium # 116 Did Jesus contradict Israel's faith in the one God and saviour?

nn. 599-605, 620 The Death of Jesus

Compendium # 118 Why was the death of Jesus part of God’s plan?

nn. 613-617, 622-623 Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross

Compendium # 122 What are the results of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?

nn.651-655, 658 Jesus’ Resurrection

Compendium # 131 What is the saving meaning of Jesus’ resurrection?

nn. 1163-71 Lent/Easter – The Liturgical Year

Compendium # 241 What is the centre of the liturgical season?

nn. 1337-44 The institution of the Eucharist

Compendium # 272 When did Jesus Christ institute the Eucharist?

nn. 1362-1368 Eucharist as memorial of Christ's Passover

Compendium # 280In what way is the Eucharist a memorial of the sacrifice of Christ?

nn. 1434-1439Forms of penance in Christian life

Compendium # 301 What forms does penance take in Christian life?

Background for Teachers

Introduction

This module has several components:

  1. On Ash Wednesday, children will be introduced to the Season of Lent.

This will include:

  • changing the colour of the Sacred Space to purple, and discussing why;
  • celebrating an Ash Wednesday Mass or liturgy;
  • introducing the actions of Lent i.e. prayer, almsgiving and fasting; and
  • focusing prayer in Lent and raising money for Project Compassion (S2 children are too young to fast, although the concept may be discussed with them).

Whilst the Lenten theme runs in the classroom, teachers should complete teaching their first module of the year, and not begin the actual Lenten module until the third week of Lent (as they learn about Lent every year, it is important to give time to complete other modules).

  1. In the fifth week of Lent and Holy Week, the focus will be on the Easter Triduum, through the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
  2. For two weeks after Easter, children will continue by learning about the Easter Season. However, they must be aware that the Easter Season lasts for fifty days, and so class prayer should have the Easter theme for that period of time. As the “Alleluia” is returned, maybe, “Alleluia” banners could be prominent in the classroom or school. The sacred space might contain symbols that represent new life.

Ash Wednesday is a special day which is the first day of Lent

The liturgical year is designed to express and celebrate the different aspects of our lives. There are times of great celebration and joy, times when we celebrate the ordinary things of our lives and times of preparation forgiveness and healing. Lent is a season of preparation for the great feast of Easter, a time during which we focus on how we can best be disciples of Jesus. Lent presents us with its challenge to take stock of our lives, to see more clearly what is in our hearts, and to discover what might be calling us out of our comfort zones. It is a time for personal as well as group reflection, a time for entering into 'the wilderness' and grappling with the mysteries of life, through which we prepare for Easter when we renew our baptismal vows and celebrate the greatest mysteries of our faith. Lent encourages us to find the sacred in the ordinary as we look at our everyday relationships with God, with others and with creation.

On Ash Wednesday Catholics all over the world come to church to receive ashes on their foreheads. The name of the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, comes from the old custom of blessing ashes and marking the foreheads of the people with ashes on this day. The practice was adopted by early Christians from their Jewish heritage where ashes had been used as an expression of sorrow and humiliation. The custom was then often used privately by the early Christians. In medieval times, mourners and penitents often clothed themselves in sackcloth and sprinkled their hands and faces with dust and ashes. It was introduced into the liturgy and became a formal part of the Roman practice in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Today, the ashes are prepared by burning palms from the preceding Palm Sunday. It has become a public sign of communal faith through which Catholics express our connection in the Cross of Jesus, our connection with creation, our connections with those who are suffering and dying, and our place in the living, dying and rising of Jesus.

As these young children receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday they will learn that the special sign on their foreheads is to remind them to be good and kind to everyone during this time of waiting for Easter to come.

Our call to bring about the Kingdom of God ~ a focus in Lent

In Jesus' life and ministry, the Kingdom of God was the focus of everything that he said and did. Jesus shared his giftedness with all, especially the poor and became the model for unselfish, loving service based on the two great commandments, love of God and love of neighbour.

People who met Jesus were affected by the person he was: his actions and words through which he brought healing and forgiveness. Those who trusted and believed in him experienced a freedom to respond to God's love. Jesus excluded no one from his love and care. His example challenges the Christian community to reach out to all with the same love and care that he showed to others.

The Season of Lent is a time in which we focus on our call to bring about the kingdom of God in our own lives. The actions of almsgiving, fasting and prayer help to direct our minds to injustice in the world and our call to make a difference.

Symbols of Lent and Easter

Symbols:The liturgy of the church depends on the use of symbols. It is important to note the difference between symbols and signs. Signs convey a message or information. Symbols point beyond themselves to a deeper reality and can carry many meanings simultaneously, but there is always a level of unified meaning that the symbol possesses. Symbols gather layers of meaning over time and in a sense their meaning is inexhaustible.

  • Palms:The palm tree was significant in the Old Testament e.g. both Solomon and Jeremiah used the palm tree as a symbol of straight stature. In Leviticus, the Lord tells Moses to keep the festival of the Lord for seven days with rest on the first day and afterwards on the eighth. “ On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy willows of the brook and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days” (Lev 23:40). The city of Jericho, an oasis in the desert, was also known as the “City of palm trees”.

Palms were considered as princely trees, were used to symbolise victory and were also an adornment in temples. Palms were a sign of welcome, of public homage and of journey’s end. They were a sign of public acceptance and were waved and strewn in triumphal processions. Palms also provided food and shade for desert travellers, and were probably the first sign of an oasis seen by these people. As such, they became a symbol of finding water by desert travellers.