Crown of Glory

Paschal Mystery: The Journey of Faith, p. 1

Paschal Mystery:

The Journey of Faith

Paschal Mystery: The Journey of Faith, p. 1

Purpose

The participants will be guided through a personal and communal journey based on the church’s understanding of paschal mystery, which describes the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. They will explores the meaning and their experience of the paschal mystery as it relates to Jesus’ own life and key readings from Lent and the Triduum.

Materials Needed

Nametags
2 - 6-8 foot tables
3-4 pens
Newsprint
1 piece of muslin, 12” x 12” per person
Grapevine wreath, 12” diameter
3 markers, per person
2 pairs of scissors, per small group of 5-6
Cross, approximately 18”-24” tall
Small table with appropriate tablecloth, if needed
CD player
CD of “Prayer Before the Cross” by David Haas (GIA)

Prepare in Advance

1. At the front or in the center of the space, set the cross and grapevine wreath together. If needed, use a small table and lean or place the cross on it with the grapevine next to or ringed around one of the arms of top of the cross.

2. Set one table near the door. Place the nametags on the table with 3-4 pens.

3. Set up a second table with refreshments.

4. Cut the muslin into 12” x 12” squares.

5. Write the following list on a piece of newsprint that will be used later

Putting on your backpack
Easy path
Uphill climbs
Fallen trees and big boulders
Narrow space
Uneven ground
Last steps

6. Working with another leader, prepare an example of the “Temptor” and “Temptee” role play described in Step 5 below.

Session at a Glance

7:00 p.m.Welcome and Introduction: The Paschal Journey of Faith

7:15 p.m.The Weight of Baggage: The Temptation in the Desert

7:35 p.m.Keeping Your Eye on the Prize: Transfiguration

8:05 p.m.Break

8:15 p.m.A Crown of Sins: Crucifixion (includes prayer)

8:35 p.m.Death No More: The Tomb

8:55 p.m.The End is Just the Beginning—Again

9:00 p.m.Good Night!

Welcome and Introduction: The Paschal Journey of Faith(15 minutes)

Step 1: (2-3 minutes) Gather the young people together in the space. Invite those who are new to the group to introduce themselves. Begin the session by noting for the young people that they are going to be taking journey—a particular type of journey where they will learn something about themselves, their faith, and God.

Step 2: (8-12 minutes) Divide the young people into small groups of 5-6 people. Present the following points to them.

Life is patterned. One of the most common patterns is the cycle of death to new life. We see it in the seasons. As the leaves of fall die and wither, winter comes like a great sleep or even a tomb, but it eventually turns into spring with its new buds.
In the Church, we call this pattern the paschal mystery, and we see it modeled in the life of Jesus in both his teaching and in his own life. The paschal mystery refers to “the suffering, death and resurrection to glorious new life of Jesus of Nazareth”(From The New Concise Catholic Dictionary, Reynolds R. Ekstrom, pp. 195-196).
In his teaching, Jesus regularly asked those he encountered to let go or “die” to something in their lives in order to be saved from that which hurt them. Think of the story of the woman caught in adultery. The crowd was prepared to stone her to death as the law dictated. When Jesus was asked what they should do, he told them that whoever is without sin should be the first to throw a stone. As we know, all of her persecutors walked away. Then Jesus confronted her. What she needed to let go of was her sins, especially adultery. Jesus saved her, giving her back a new and different life, as long as she did what he told her to do—sin no more.
We look to the end of his life to see how Jesus lived out the paschal mystery. He died on the cross, then rose on the third day.
This pattern of dying and rising to new life is one of our central beliefs and an awesome mystery.
Our sacraments reflect the pattern of the paschal mystery. Think about marriage where we say that two people become one through the sacrament—a shedding of their separate lives so that they may have one life together in Christ.
When we participate in the journey of faith, especially in the sacraments, we come to know the God who is love more fully, and as three persons in One, the Trinity.
This is the journey that we are going on—a reflective journey of faith where we will explore when and how the paschal mystery intersects in your lives.
The only baggage you will take with you is yourself. Our destination is finding new life in God. The journey will take us through the desert, up to the mountain, and to the city.

The Weight of Baggage: The Temptation in the Desert (20 minutes)

Step 3: (5 minutes) Distribute the pieces of muslin and three markers to each person. Tell them that they are going to create a map during the course of this session. Invite the young people to draw a map like a treasure map with a road leading from one starting point to a final destination. Remind them to leave about two inches at all the edges. Tell them to label the starting point with their name, and the destination as “God.” Explain that they need to label with words and/or pictures a few more areas on the map in this order: a patch of desert, a mountain top, a hill of crosses, and a garden. List these on newsprint and provide a visual example, if needed.

Step 4: (2-3 minutes) Proclaim Matthew 4:1-11 (The Temptation in the Desert).

Step 5: (5 minutes) In their small groups, ask them to do a role play of the Temptor and the Temptee. The Temptor tries to tempt the Temptee with objects or actions—the prize—that appeal to the Temptee. The goal for the Temptor is to get the Temptee to do whatever he or she wants in order to receive the prize. Everyone in the group should get a turn in the role play. Working with another leader, provide an example of how the role play would work. If time allows, give everyone a chance to play both parts.

Step 6: (5-8 minutes) End the role plays. Instruct them to find the desert on their map, and write down what they were most tempted by during the role play. Then add the following questions: What other things around you “tempt” you to not do what is best for you? to not treat others kindly? to ignore your relationship with God? Note that the temptations and actions that keep us from doing what is best for ourselves, others, and God is called sin.

Ask them to identify which temptations they need to give up, then to choose one of those temptations to focus on, and circle it. Note that those actions whichprevent us from doing what is best for ourselves, toward others, and toward God are called sins.

Keeping Your Eye on the Prize: Transfiguration(30 minutes)

Step 7: (7-8 minutes) Ask the young people to put aside their maps and stand. If needed, space them out a little so that they are not running into each other. Talk them through the following exercise of walking up a mountain. The action that should be mimed by everyone in the group is in parentheses. The following words may be used as you guide the young people through this exercise.

Let’s pretend we are hiking up a mountain.
Before we take off, we have to put on our backpack which, in our case, is loaded with all of the temptations and sins that we have in our lives. (Put on a very heavy backpack.)
The road up the bottom of the mountain is rising a little at a time. (Walk normally with little exertion.)
The road is getting a bit steeper now. (Simulate walking uphill but staying in place.)
There are some fallen trees and big boulders in the path. (Take big steps to step over the imaginary trees and boulders.)
A nice path has opened up. (Walk normally again.)
We have to squeeze through a very narrow space and the path is a little uneven. (Pretend that you are squeezing through a tight space and planting your feet very carefully.)
Now we make the turn uphill for a while. (Take big uphill, climbing steps—like a stepping machine.)
We are almost there. (Continue uphill, climbing steps.)
We made it. (Stop.)

Step 8: (10 minutes) Ask the young people to sit down in their places with their maps and markers. Invite them to refer back to the sin that they circled on their map. Invite them to note their responses to following questions on the road between the desert and the mountaintop.

Note to Leader: Consider putting these questions on newsprint in addition to reading them aloud. Quietly play instrumental music in the background to keep the reflective nature of this part of the session.

How heavy was your backpack?
What is “easy path”—the easy things about carrying your temptation and sin?
What is your “uphill climb”—the choices that will exhaust you as you try to let go of your sin or temptation?
Like the fallen trees and big boulders, what are some of the obstacles in your way that are preventing you from letting go of your temptation and sin?
What is the “narrow space” that you have to walk through with your sin—narrow spaces can be places where we get stuck, where we give up because we do not think we can get through?
What is your “uneven ground”—the people, objects, events that might make you stumble as you try to let go?
What are the “last steps” that you need to take to get rid of your temptation or sin?

Step 9: (3 minutes) Proclaim Luke 9:28b-36 (The Transfiguration).

Step 10: (10 minute) Make the following comments in these or similar words.

Often, people who are traveling through mountainous areas climb to the top to get a sense of where they are and where they are going.
The view from the top of the mountain is often amazing. When you are at the top of a mountain, what you see can also be deceiving. What looks very close is often very far away and often more treacherous than you can imagine.
At the top of the mountain, the disciples experienced the fullness of God’s presence, and they were awed by it.

Lead a brief brainstorming session with the large group on the following question: God is at the top of our mountain climb. “What do you expect God to be like?” List their answers on newsprint. At the end of the brainstorming, tell them to pick a few items from the list, and add them to their map near the garden, the destination point.

Break (10 minutes)

Invite the participants to take a brief break. Have refreshments available.

A Crown of Sins: Crucifixion (20 minutes)

Step 11: (5 minutes) Proclaim Matt. 27:27-31 (The Scourging of Jesus).

Ask the young people to identify how they may be mocked and discouraged by others from letting go of their temptations and sins. Instruct them to write their answers on their map on the road toward the hill of crosses.

Step 12: (10 minutes) Invite them to reflect on what temptations and sins they cannot overcome without Jesus’ help. Pass out a couple pairs of scissors to each small group. Instruct them to cut and/or tear a narrow strip of the cloth off their maps, and write on it what are the temptations and sins for which they need Jesus’ help. When they are done writing, tell them to roll the strip into a tube.

Note for the group that each tube of cloth is like a thorn in Jesus’ crown, the sins and failings that Jesus was willing to carry to his death on the cross. Point out the wreath and identify it as a representation of Jesus’ crown of thorns. One at a time, invite them to come forward, put their tube of cloth between the branches of the wreath, and ask Jesus to bear their sins.

Step 13: (5 minutes) When they have all returned to their places, ask them to write a prayer on their map on the hill of crosses. Their prayer should be a prayer before the cross, asking Jesus for the strength to let go of their sins and be reborn in the light of Christ. After all have composed their prayers, ask the participants to pray the prayer they have composed. Play “Prayer Before the Cross” by David Haas (GIA).

Death No More: The Tomb(20 minutes)

Step 14: (5 minutes) Proclaim Luke 24:1-12 (The Resurrection of Jesus)

Note the following in these or similar words.

The faithful women returned to the tomb to anoint the dead body. They were filled with grief because they had lost someone they dearly loved.
When they arrive, they discover that Jesus is not there. The two men tell them that he has risen and that they should go share the good news. Their grief is turned into amazement and even joy.
Because of the Resurrection, we know that all of our losses and grieving will be turned into joy, and all of our sins will be forgiven. We know that God does not only ask us to let go of our sins, but also promises new life and a new way of being. We know that whatever has divided us from being truly ourselves and being in right relationship with God and others will be bridged.
Imagine being a witness to the Resurrection like the women and realizing that your sins have been forgiveness, that you are no longer tempted by those things that separate you from God and others.
How would you share that good news with others?

Step 15: (15 minutes) In their small groups, ask them to tell each other the ways in which they would share this good news with others. Then, invite them to create a poem or song that includes all of their responses. Give them 3-5 minutes to prepare. As time allows, ask groups to share their poems or song with the large group.

The End is Just the Beginning—Again(5 minutes)

Step 16: (2 minutes) Invite them to make a sign, like a stop sign, that says, “PM” for paschal mystery. Ask them to review their maps, and identify every point along the way that was part of the experience of paschal mystery, the little “deaths”—what you had to stop doing, being, saying, acting as—and the little “rebirths”—when you experienced a bit of new life or a change, when you stopped being, doing, or acting some way and became new.

Step 17: (3 minutes) In their small groups, ask them to briefly share their responses to the following questions. The questions may be posted on newsprint.

+What did you learn about your personal faith?

+What did you learn about yourself?

Close the session with this prayer or a similar prayer:

God,

today I celebrate the incredible realization

that you have not abandoned me.

You continually restore my hope

and never tire in your passion for me,

even in the midst

of this most unquestionable horror story:

the agony of blood and nails and thorns,

the loneliness of the cross,

the abandonment by friends and followers.

You ask me to travel to the dark place as well

and feel your searing pain,

feel your loneliness,

feel your grief of disloyalty.

Come to me today

and sign me with your cross.

May I wear the cross proudly

and always live as your servant.

Into your hands, God, I commend my life. Amen.

(From Praying with the Word—Lent, Holy Week, and Easter by David Haas. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1997, p. 92.)

Invite participants to “sign the cross” on another’s forehead as a way of sharing a sign of peace and hope.

After the prayer, conclude the session by encouraging participantsto take their maps home and put it someplace where it will remind them of what the paschal mystery is and where they can see it in their own lives.

This session was written by Therese Brown, Senior Marketing Specialist, United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Office of Publishing, WashingtonDC.

Paschal Mystery: The Journey of Faith, p. 1