8th GradeOctober 20th, 2019

Chosen Lesson 20: What Would Jesus Do?

What Devyn will Prepare: Candy & Bibles in each classroom Matching game flashcards WWJD bracelets Paper & supplies for beatitude drawings

What the Catechist should prepare:

Outline:5:30-6:30pm: Youth Mass6:30-7:00pm: Snacks, candy question, opening prayer in dining room7:00-7:10pm: Transition to classrooms

Welcome the teens Take attendance

7:10-7:20pm: Prayer Intentions & Bible Exploration Bring out the prayer intention journal (This should be a purposeful moment to really

discuss our prayer lives. Try not to just skip through it quickly.) o Ask the teens if any of their prayers were answered. Talk about why we think God

said “Yes” or “no” to our needs.o Pray the following,

Lord, thank you for gathering us here in this space. Please protect us and make us feel safe in our group. Please hear our prayers that we ask of you today.

o Discuss any new prayer intentions. Ad-lib any prayers or say “We pray to the Lord” with the response afterwards.

o Pray over the intentions in the journal with a group “Our Father.” Bible Exploration

o Ask a few teens to share their favorite Bible verse or Bible story. Have the class find the passage in their Bible.

Catechists and aides feel free to share your own. If teens don’t know the chapter/verse of their favorite verse just tell them

to summarize it as best as they can and then look up the Book/chapter/verse on your phone so the class can find it.

7:20-7:35pm: Videos Helpful Reminders before the video:

o Tell the teens the following things to help them understand the videos bettero The beatitudes are Jesus’ first preaching. He lists out 8 blessings/ideas/teachings

that will lead us to happinesso The word “paraclete” means advocate or helper. In Christianity, the term

"paraclete" most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.

Lesson 20 Segment 1: 5:48 Lesson 20 Segment 2: 6:49 Lesson 20 Segment 3: 4:34

7:35-7:45pm: Teaching & Discussion Ask the teens how their growing with Jesus routine has been going

o If they haven’t kept up with it encourage them to try again this week.o Tell them that if they can’t get in the routine in the morning to find a time during

the day (before bed, after dinner, etc.) to try it. Say the following (taken from the reflection on Matthew 5 in the Catholic Youth Bible

called “An Upside-Down Kingdom” )o When Jesus proclaimed the Beatitudes he startled his listeners. In Jesus’ time

being rich and powerful was a sign of God’s blessing. If you were poor or unhappy it was a sign that you offended God

o Jesus’ words continue to challenge us today. Popcorn read Matthew 4:23-5:12 Ask the teens the following questions:

o Why do the beatitudes give us hope?o Why are they still important today?o How are these teachings different to what the world tells us?o Which one stands out to you?

7:45-7:55pm: Matching Game Pass out the Beatitude cards- one for each teen Take turns having the teen read their card and trying to find the person with the matching

half of their Beatitude. Mix up the cards and repeat.

7:55-8:05pm: Living in the World Ask the teens to comment on the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

o What did they think was cool about them?o Did anything surprise them?o What will they remember most from their video feature?

Have the teens work on their “Beatitude people” worksheet Discuss as a class

8:05-8:15pm: Visions of Heaven Reread the story of St. John Bosco’s vision of Heaven (attached) Have the teens Draw a picture, make a comic, write a story, etc. of favorite beatitude

coming to gloryo Example: what will Jesus’ promise look like fulfilled? What would Heaven be

like for those who are pure of heart or for the peacemakers?

8:15-8:25pm: Friend Discussions

Have each teen pair up with a friend. Have them talk about what their week is going to look like. What activities they are going

to do.o Talk about what you’ll need prayers for and where you are hoping to experience

Jesus.

Pass out WWJD bracelets for teens to use as a reminder of Jesus’ teaching and love for them!

This might be hard for 8th graders at first but help them and prompt them.

8:25-8:30pm: Closing Prayer

Pray the Beatitude closing prayer found in the teen’s workbooks Take turns praying each part Prayer listed on the back of John Bosco Vision sheet

John Bosco Vision

As you know, dreams come in one’s sleep. So during the night hours of December 6, while I was in my room – whether reading or pacing back and forth or resting in my bed, I am not sure – I began dreaming.

It suddenly seemed to me that I was standing on a small mound or hillock, on the rim of a broad plain so far-reaching that the eye could not compass its boundaries lost in vastness. All was blue, blue as the calmest sea, though what I saw was not water. It resembled a highly polished, sparkling sea of glass. Stretching out beneath, behind and on either side of me was an expanse of what looked like seashore.

Broad, imposing avenues divided the plain into grand gardens of indescribable beauty, each broken up by thickets, lawns, and flower beds of varied shapes and colors.

None of the plants we know could ever give you an idea of those flowers, although there was a resemblance of sorts. The very grass, the flowers, the trees, and the fruit – all were of singular and magnificent beauty. Leaves were of gold, trunks and boughs were of diamonds, and every tiny detail was in keeping with this wealth. The various kinds of plants were beyond counting.

Each species and each single plant sparkled with a brilliance of its own. Scattered throughout those gardens and spread over the entire plain I could see countless buildings whose architecture, magnificence, harmony, grandeur and size were so unique that one could say all the treasures of earth could not suffice to build a single one. If only my boys had one such house, I said to myself, how they would love it, how happy they would be, and how much they would enjoy being there! Thus ran my thoughts as I gazed upon the exterior of those buildings, but how much greater must their inner splendor have been!

Beatitude PrayerLord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the poor in

spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Keep us from being preocuppied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven in theirs." Make us willing to suffer for the

sake of right rather than to practice injustice; and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them.

Beatitudes Characters

Below are the Beatitudes. Think of someone who lives out this beatitude. It can be someone you know, someone famous or someone from a story! Write their

name below the beatitude.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Beatitude PrayerLord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the poor in

spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Keep us from being preocuppied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us. Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world.

Lord Jesus, you said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven in theirs." Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right rather than to practice injustice; and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them.