Welcome to Week 3! Year 5 and Year 6 students have started their Religious Education unit of work by watching ‘The Letters’ exploring the life of Mother Teresa. This provocation was used to generate interest in the characteristics of a Saint. Provocations encourage students to think independently by encouraging their interests and the exploration of those interests. 

What do you see? 

What do you think is going on?

What does it make you wonder?

Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to put him to the test, one of them put a further question, 'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?' Jesus said to him, 'You must love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too (Michael Fallon, 2020).

Jesusʼ reply to the Pharisee lawyer expresses traditional wisdom. The first commandment, called the Shemaʻ after its first word in Hebrew, is found in Deuteronomy, where it is followed by the injunction: 

Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:6-9 

It was a pious practice to wear a small container with this text inside. It was worn on the forehead as a reminder to keep the command always before oneʼs eyes. It was worn on the arm as a reminder to act always in accordance with it. A mezuzah which contained the text of the Shemaʻ was also hung at the entrance to the home (Michael Fallon, 2020). 

World of the Text (What is the text saying? What does it mean?) 
In this sacred text, the Pharisees decide to test Jesus. They had heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees. They gathered around Jesus, and one of the scholars of the law asked Jesus: “What is the greatest commandment in the law?” Naturally, Jesus replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.” Jesus affirmed that this commandment was the first and the greatest of all the commandments. Jesus then continued and said: “The second commandment is similar: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments ” (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau, 2015).

World in front of the Text (What does this text mean today?) 

Jesus calls us to love each and every person we encounter: the ones we like as well as the individuals we prefer to keep our distance from. 

How can I strive to keep Jesus’ call in my mind and heart?

How can I strive to love each and every person I encounter? 

A Spirituality for our Times: Practising Care and Tenderness

A reflective afternoon for women inspired Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.

Hosted by the Archdiocesan Women’s Taskforce

Facilitators: Clare Condon SGS and Andrea Dean

Offered via Zoom Saturday 7 November from 3 pm to 4.30 pm

Register here https://bit.ly/CareTenderness

May peace be with you,
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)