Oct. 5th — The Holy Trinity

Oct. 5th, 2014 — The Holy Trinity

Preparation notes: This has been possibly my most difficult catechism class to prep for since I've started doing catechism. As my student's capacity for understanding increases, I'm no longer comfortable with the simple formulations in my materials. Yes, it's a mystery, but we can't understand our faith without spending a deeper reflection on the Trinity. The kinds of exercises my prep book recommends, such as reviewing and chanting the Shema, and collage creation, trivialize the Trinity. That said, I will do a quick review of it — since, though the Shema I can focus on the economy of salvation without saying so. I can cover what the Shema exercise suggests at by merely saying, Matthew 5:17; “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” So, through Jesus, and in the context of this course, we'll be looking at God's Revelation of who He is, through His Son — just who is Jesus? Who is God the Father? Who is God the Holy Spirit? Treacle no more, In say.

I've included a satirical Lutheran video (though apparently routed in Patristics, safely enough, I trust) and an Eastern Orthodox video that recapitulates the Athanaisan Creed. I emphasized this creed too extensively early on — which is part of the learning process of teaching.

Post-class thoughts:

I fear this was too much. I would drop the Shema if I could do this over again. Having the video greatly helped, though I was distracted without quick access to my itinerary. Having my main computer as the AV controller made that a problem. The kids struggled through the crossword puzzle provided with the lesson. I asked one of my students "What was today's essentially about?" "Purgatory and a funny video about a couple of Irish guys." 

Overview:

The Mystery of the Trinity:

The Blessed Trinity is the central mystery of our Catholic faith.
There are three Divine Persons in one God:
The Father,
the Son
and the Holy Spirit.

"Who knows who St. Patrick is? What is he known for? Where did he serve?"

  

Objectives: 

• Identify the Trinity
• Recite the Shema
• Get a sense of the unity, harmony and love in the communion of the Trinity

Materials

• Bibles
• Handout 3-A

1. Quick Start Activity
1. Read from Chapter 3 for those 10 or more minutes early
2. Crossword puzzle — together or alone
2. Welcome and Opening Prayer
1. Light candle while praying "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit"
2. Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God
1. Think when your family was happy or sad: There is Unity in joy, unity in sorrow.
3. Read the prayer on page 41
4. Three in one, one in three
3. Learning the Shema
1. Chant the Shema
2. What language?
3. Discuss translation
4. Read Mark 12:28 - 30
5. FREELANCE
1. Revelation: God reveals himself to us
2. How does He do so?
3. Someone read Mark 8:27 - 29
4. Who do YOU say that Jesus is?
4. Trinity: Bad Math, But Great Faith
1. Longer statement on the Trinity:

1. Trinity is a mystery that we can not comprehend through human reason but we understand through faith and is best confessed in the words of the Athanasius Creed, which states that we worship One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance of God, that we are compelled by the Christian Truth to confess that each distinct Person is God and Lord and the Deity of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit is One equal in glory, co-equal in Majesty

1. Start with the In the Name of prayer
2. What is the meaning of the Shema?
3. Are we praying to 3 Gods or one God?
4. 1 + 1 + 1 = ?
5. Read John 1:1-18 — what is being described here?
5. The Community of God
1. The Trinity is a communion
2. Read Page 36 - 37 "The Work of the Trinity" and
3. Page 38 "The Trinity is a Communion"
4. Close with: The Orthodox Trinity video
   

1. Closing Prayer
1. Pray from page 35 of the textbook "Pray It"