Healthy and Holy Relationship Concept: Mercy and Forgiveness Grades Catechist Reflection Page Vol. 3, Issue 1 9—12 When one is looking at the topic of safe environment, we need to consider how we keep our children, youth and teens safe in various settings and situations. While it is the adults that need to protect all our young people, young people can be empowered and encouraged to learn ways to avoid unfavorable situations, to stop when feeling unsafe, and tell a parent or trusted adult so they can help. This applies especially in our relationships. To build positive, healthy relation- ships, one needs to develop the virtue of forgiveness and mercy throughout our daily life. This lesson cannot cover all on the topic of mercy and forgiveness. It is a start, hoping it encourages more learning and practice to nurture this virtue in all our relationships – with God, with others, and with ourselves. Reflection for Catechist ~~ Mercy and Forgiveness 101— Before teaching this lesson, the first step in Review this information to familiarize yourself with topic preparing the lesson is to take some time to concepts as you prepare to teach this lesson. reflect on the relationships in our own life. This is These points were taken from Pope Francis’ Bull of the foundation for the lesson. Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. Searching Consider your relationships – the internet with the titleMisericordiae Vultus will allow you to read the entire document, if you desire. Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. Do they help you be a better person or hold We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of you down? mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace Our salvation depends on it. Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening How have you handled hurts in these our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite relationships? our sinfulness. At times we are called to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of How does your faith help you deal with these the Father’s action in our lives. hurts? Mercy will always be greater than any sin, and no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive. May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers Remember a time — and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is -you asked for forgiveness already present in our midst! “Patient and merciful.” These words often go together -you forgave another in the Old Testament to describe God’s nature. In a special way the Psalms bring to the fore the gran- -How did you feel? deur of his merciful action (Psalms 103 146, 147, 136). The mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete reality with which he reveals his love as of that of a Thoughts to Consider: father or a mother, moved to the very depths out of Healthy relationships are holy relationships. love for their child. Our relationship with God is reflected in our In the parables devoted to mercy, we find the core of relationship with others. Our relationship with the Gospel and of our faith, because mercy is presented others is reflected in our relationship with God. as a force that overcomes everything, filling the heart This is reflected in the “Great Commandment:” with love and bringing consolation through pardon. Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! Jesus affirms that mercy is not only an action of the The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love Father, it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your true children are. In short, we are called to show mercy soul, with all your mind, and with all your because mercy has first been shown to us. strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your “Love is what brings us closest to God. Forgiveness makes neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other us resemble Him by virtue of being an act of love.” commandment greater than these.” (Mk. 12: 29-31) - Pope Francis, His Life in His Own Words Page 1 Healthy and Holy Relationship Concept: Mercy and Forgiveness Grades Overview Vol. 3, Issue 1 9—12 This lesson is designed for use during a class session in January/February. It presents information on some ways that our faith life can help us build qualities of right relationships. This lesson stresses that God loves each one of us always as we are special to him. When we do something unloving, he is always ready with his unlimited mercy and forgiveness. We can receive his mercy and forgiveness in our relationship with him, especially through the sacrament of Reconciliation. We can also pray to him and tell him we are truly sorry for what we have done, that we will try not to do it again, and try to do something to make it right with the person we hurt. As children grow, learn and mature in building healthy relationships with others, they will continue to learn, practice, and exhibit the importance of mercy and forgiveness with their relationships with God and others. Forgiving others does not mean that we let others hurt us. An environment of open communication encourages children to communicate their thoughts and feelings appropriately and seek help from parents and other trusted adults when feeling others are hurting them or pressuring them to break the rules. Goal: “Be merciful, just as your Explore forgiveness and mercy in our relationships to Father is merciful.” discern how well we are living in healthy, right, and holy - Luke 6:36 relationships with others. Session Outline I. Opening Prayer Opening Prayer (2 min) Share: Jesus taught us to ask for mercy and “Forgiveness and Mercy in Our Relationships” lesson forgiveness and to forgive others in the Lord’s Prayer. focus (30 min) When we love and forgive others, we are followers of Activity worksheets (15 min) Jesus. Summarize Session (10 min) Closing Prayer (3 min) Our Father Our Father, who art in heaven, Session Objectives: hallowed be thy name. Explore forgiveness and mercy. Thy kingdom come; Explore the use of forgiveness and mercy in various right, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. healthy, holy relationships We are called to forgive others as God forgives us. Give us this day our daily bread, Forgiveness does not mean giving up your values, allowing AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, yourself to be hurt, or accepting blame that does not belong to AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. you. And lead us not into temptation, II. What Are God’s Rules? but deliver us from evil. Amen. A Reference for the Lesson, as needed. Share with the class: “ God gave Moses the 10 Commandments to help guide our lives and how to show Supplies our love to God and others. (Give an example of one or Pens or pencils for each two commandments.) Activities / Hand Outs One of the scribes asked Jesus, “Which is the first of all Activity Sheet “Reflection Page” the commandments?” If possible, quiet, calm background music (CD, MP3, etc.) Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God May make copies for each of the two sections “Act of Sor- with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, row” and “How to Celebrate Reconciliation” (pg. 5). and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other Some materials created by Diocese of Grand Island. Used with commandment greater than these.” (Mk. 12: 29-31) permission. Additional materials developed by Diocese of These are what are known as the Greatest Rapid City. Credit is also given to Loyola Press for “How to Commandments. Make a Good Confession” and parts of pg. 7. Page 2 Page 3 III. LESSON: Forgiveness and Mercy in Our Relationships Introduction Ask: How would you define “forgiveness?” As individuals work at sharing definitions, bring in the concept that forgiveness is a conscious decision to release feelings of hurt, resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. Discuss: When you forgive, you do not gloss over or deny the seriousness of an offense against you. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor condoning or excusing offenses. Though forgiveness can help repair a damaged relationship, it does not require you to reconcile with the person who harmed you, or release them from legal accountability. In abusive relationships, you need to get away and ask your parents or a trusted adult for help. Instead, forgiveness brings the forgiver peace of mind and frees him or her from bitter anger by letting go of deeply held negative feelings. It empowers you to recognize the pain you suffered without letting that pain define you; this enables you to heal and move on with your life. Lesson Development Share: Although some of us may have asked for God’s mercy because we are afraid of incurring his wrath as punishment for our sins, this is not our Church’s understanding of God’s mercy. Rather, when we call on God to have mercy, we call on God in the only way we know him—as one who lovingly responds with compassion to those in need. From this we learn that mercy involves being compassionate and forgiving.