Blogging content
Hi class,
Yes Sasha, we know you posted the last entry. 
Thanks for posting anyway even though the content IS confusing… haha. Donno where you got that from!
Anyway, just to give everyone a heads up, below is a list of things that you can blog. All you have to do is send us catechists an email of your post and one of us will upload it for you.
Alternatively, we will assign (or if there’s a volunteer, even better) someone or two (1 boy & 1 girl) to be adminstrators of our class blog. Whoever has anything to blog, please email them. Which do you guys prefer?
Blogging content:
1) Anything interesting, funny, inspirational and respectful
2) Any content that is not suitable or offensive (vulgarity, blasphemy, rude, etc) will not be uploaded for view!
3) Any interesting topic or even provocative questions for our discussion
Hope this is clearer now. If you have any questions, please email us at catechist@ymail.com
Looking forward to receive more entries from the class! =)
~ Marlene
—read!!!
Hi. The cathecists have been confusing me in class…are we allowed to post or not?!! well since you have said that we are not comming to the blog…this is proof that we are. i know we are probably not suppose to post anything that will freak others out of the religion but i couldn’t resist..sorry!!! Gospel of Thomas saying 114:
-Annonymous.(i’ll be amazed if u don’t figure out who i am)=D |
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Jesus, a person for others
It was good to be back in class after being away for 2 weeks at World Youth Day in Sydney. Attendance was pretty good today. Today’s lesson was about “Jesus, a person for others”.
The first four to arrive for class
We started off by recapping last week’s session on “Jesus, a person of feelings”. I read out the story on “Lunch with Jesus”. It was about a boy and an old woman, sharing lunch together. They both saw Jesus in each other.
Next, we had the class to go out of the classroom and stay within the church compound to look for Jesus. Perhaps seeing Jesus in someone else or in nature.
When the teens came back to class, a few of them had nothing to share (as expected), while some shared rather interesting findings. One said she sees Jesus in the fan. It’s like how we take the fan for granted as it provides wind and coolness to the warm surrounding. Jesus offers us a lot of things in life but we tend to take him for granted.
The boys (Jerome and gang) said they saw Jesus in someone who has Jesus’ hairstyle. Naomi said that the fish reminds her of Jesus as it’s cute.
We reflected on the Bible passage of “The Blind Man in Jericho” Luke 18:35-43. Jesus healed the blind man because of his faith.
We showed a video “Go Light Your World” by Kathy Troccoli. The lyrics of the song was really meaningful.
Watching the video together
Meaning lyrics
Do we hold our candle even without a flame?
The class shared about the times when they have experienced the compassion of Jesus. The sharing of Gareth and John Paul particularly touched me. Gareth shared about how Jesus healed him when he was struck with a strange disease sometime last year and he had to go for an operation.
John Paul shared how he only had $5 which was not enough for his taxi fare. When he told the cab driver he didn’t have enough money to pay for the $8+ cab fare, the taxi driver didn’t scold him but instead told him it’s ok, $5 is fine. They each received a bar of French Nougat that I bought from Sydney for the wonderful sharing!
Engaging in group discussion
The group finally got talking after much persuasion
The boys who were ashamed of their looks...... except Jeremy! ;p
Penning down thoughts in their journals
It was a good class, I thought. I hope the teens learnt something today and will be a candle in the room of darkness. To be the light that shines brightly in others’ lives!
~ Marlene
Faith
Amongst the many interesting questions raised in class today, we had the age-old concern: “What is faith?” or “What do we mean by ‘faith’?” (Thanks, Simeon =)). As promised, I’ve found the passage from one of Paul’s epistles (i.e. one of his letters) that speaks of faith.
To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God’s approval. It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God’s word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
The rest of the passage goes on to describe the faith of the ancient figures such as Moses, Noah, and Abraham. It is as if St Paul knew that such an explanation of faith would be difficult to grasp, and these subsequent descriptions are like illustrations or examples that can help us better understand what he means in Hebrews 11:1-3.
Recall the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 in which God had called Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Now, this command is perplexing on so many different levels. First, why would God demand that a parent sacrifice his son? (And seemingly for no real reason!) Moreover, Isaac was the son through whom Abraham was to have the descendants that God promised (see Gen 21:12) — but how would that happen if Isaac really lost his life on the sacrificial altar? These are questions that reason cannot answer.
St Paul writes:
It was faith that made Abraham offer his son as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised.” Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death — and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
Indeed, ‘reckon’ seems to suggest some sort of reasoning going on… But how certain can we be of such a possibility? This is one example of faith at work.
So that’s what St Paul has to say to the Hebrews.
To me, faith is trusting in God even when there’s no apparent or obvious proof that something that I am hoping for will come true. Faith doesn’t need proof, because it is certain in itself. It isn’t conditional — it doesn’t say: Ok, I will believe in you if you show me a pink elephant in my bedroom in 5 seconds. Someone once mentioned to me with a smile: “If there’s evidence in front of you, you can’t help but believe it because to believe otherwise would be absurd and irrational. If you believe it even if you don’t have evidence before your eyes — that’s faith.”
Well, of course now there may be a temptation to say silly things like: I have faith that there’s a pink elephant in my room now even though I cannot see it.
But you and I know that faith isn’t as trivial as that =)
I hope this post has been useful for you. And maybe faith isn’t such a hard concept to grasp after all. Maybe it’s simply ‘trust in God’. Especially when the odds are against you.
- Stephanie
P.S. The version of the Bible I used in the above quotes is the Good News Bible, which I think is what most of you are using. Do read the rest of Hebrews =)
the athanasian creed
Hi all, in light of the discussion we had this past catechism on the divinity and humanity of Jesus, as well as a brief look at our theological understanding of the Holy Trinity, here’s another creed that the Church recognises — the Athanasian Creed.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father Uncreate, the Son Uncreate, and the Holy Ghost Uncreate. The Father Incomprehensible, the Son Incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost Incomprehensible. The Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost Etneral and yet they are not Three Eternals but One Eternal. As also there are not Three Uncreated, nor Three Incomprehensibles, but One Uncreated, and One Uncomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not Three Almighties but One Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not Three Gods, but One God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not Three Lords but One Lord. For, like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, there be Three Gods or Three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of the Son neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is One Father, not Three Fathers; One Son, not Three Sons; One Holy Ghost, not Three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore or after Other, None is greater or less than Another, but the whole Three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity is Trinity, and the Trinity is Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting Salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man.
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the substance of His mother, born into the world. Perfect God and Perfect Man, of a reasonable Soul and human Flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but One Christ. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into Flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by Unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one Man, so God and Man is one Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into Hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, He sitteth on the righthand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
It sums up what we believe about the nature of the Trinity quite well. Note that this creed is ecumenical and remember that “catholic” = “universal” =)
Creeds such as the Athanasian Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Apostles Creed, are professions of our faith.
That the teachings of Christianity were to be cast in some definite form is evidently implied in the commission given the Apostles ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Since they were to teach all nations to observe whatsoever Christ had commanded, and since this teaching was to carry the weight of authority, not merely of opinion, it was necessary to formulate at last the essential doctrines. Such formulation was all the more needful because Christianity was destined for all men and for all ages. To preserve unity of belief itself was quite clearly stated. The creed, therefore, is fundamentally an authoritative declaration of the truths that are to be believed. [from here]
Oftentimes, these creeds were formed so as to state the fundamental truths of Christian belief in contradistinction to heretical doctrines (e.g. Arianism). Perhaps if I have time, I’ll do a little post on heresy. Haha. Or maybe I won’t. We’ll see.
- Stephanie
got questions?
Hey guys, here’s an online version of the Catholic Encyclopedia. It’s a handy resource for questions you may have regarding certain issues, e.g. Predestination, the Eucharist, etc. However, the articles tend to be very lengthy and a little dense, so do approach one of your catechists if there’s anything that needs to be clarified.
Hope it helps.
- Stephanie
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on letting go
I posted this little story on my personal blog some time back, and thought it was quite apt for this class blog.
There was once a little girl who had a little rag doll. This doll was close to her heart and she loved it immensely. Unfortunately, as all raggedy dolls go, the little girl’s doll needed mending. So she brought the doll up to the Lord and pleaded, “Oh Heavenly Father, would you please mend my rag doll for me?” With a gentle smile, and a fatherly nod, the Lord replied, “Why of course I will.”
Days passed. And weeks passed. But the doll was far from mended. The little girl examined it closely and found it was still as scruffy as before. Angrily, she turned to the Lord and demanded, “You promised to fix my doll, but nothing has changed! It is still spoilt.” Quietly, the Lord asked, “Indeed, that is what I promised to do. But how could I begin to mend your doll when you never let go of it?”
I’d never heard this simple tale before, but it touched my heart deeply when my friend shared it with me. How easy it is to demand that things go your way, and that He patch up those areas of our lives we are unhappy with. Yet we relentlessly cling on to these problems as if we need to make sure He holds up His side of the bargain. Prowling around, ready to pounce on any unsatisfactory development. That is not the way. We need to let go. Perhaps the doll will be mended in the blink of an eye the moment we let go. Or perhaps some raggedy dolls aren’t meant to be fixed. Whatever it is, may we accept the outcome.
When the confidant thus desperately questions, “But what shall I do?” The answer is: “Nothing! Let God do it! Learn to talk and think a little less and listen a little more.”
- Wilfrid Stinissen, ‘The Gift of Spiritual Direction‘
Ok, guys, I guess this is a little heavy. Haha. But I’m sure this tale will be relevant to y’all at some point in time as it has been for me.
See you guys on Sunday (which is probably when y’all will first find out about this blog anyway).
Love,
Stephanie.
Power of the Tongue
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit ~ Proverbs 18:21
Words have the power to motivate or destroy, energize or deflate, inspire or create despair. Many successful executives can remember the time their father failed to give affirmation to them as a child. The result was either over-achievement to prove their worth, or underachievement to prove he was right.
A wife has lost her ability to love because of a critical husband. A husband has left a marriage because of words of disrespect and ungratefulness. Stories abound regarding the power of words. There are just as many stories of those who have been encouraged, challenged, and comforted with words that made a difference in their lives.
Jesus knew the power of words. He used parables to convey His principles of the Kingdom of God. He used words of forgiveness and mercy. He used words to challenge. He used words to inspire His disciples to miraculous faith.
Do your words give life? Do they inspire and challenge others to greatness? Who does God want you to encourage through your words today? Affirm someone close to you today.
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” ~ James 1:26
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ~ James 3:9-10
Hope you’re blessed by the above!
Marlene =)
Looks cool………..
Hey ppl,
Thanx Marlene for setting up this blog.
Looks grt!
Letz keep it lively n updated ya.
cheerz
James
The 4 Models of Man
A great teacher wanted to enlighten his students about different kinds of attributes and attitudes of people. He exhibited four models of man made using different materials- mud, sponge, stone and sugar respectively. He gave four bowls containing water and asked them to study how the models reacted with water.
The model made of mud dissolved and polluted the water. The sponge model absorbed water. The stone model was inert while the sugar model dissolved and sweetened the water. The teacher then explained the observations and their implications.
The persons resembling mud interfere with others, create problems and disrupt peaceful social life. Persons resembling sponge exploit others and receive benefits from society without offering any help or service.
The stone-like persons are inert but do not offer any service to society. The people resembling sugar are ready to sacrifice themselves to serve others and sweeten the society.
So do you choose to be mud, sponge, stone or sugar?
God bless,
Marlene
