Teach me to walk in your way

I am excited to share with you an activity from our last parish faith formation night - People of Faith. Each month, members of the parish family join for a meal, fellowship, learning and worship. Usually, after the meal and an opening activity, the different age groups separate for age-appropriate learning sessions. This time, we stayed together as families and joined with others for a wonderful activity.

Each table was given a Gospel story to read and each person at the table had a worksheet with the activity.  After reading the Gospel story together, each person turned the sheet over to find the beginning of a Catholic prayer - the Hail Mary**.

Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

JESUS...

Then, rather than the remainder of the prayer, we saw the word WHO.  We were to think about the story we'd read, consider it's message to us and then complete the thought -

Jesus, WHO...

For example, one of the stories we heard that evening was Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the tax collector's repentance.  The activity followed, with each person writing their own individual thoughts:

Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

JESUS...

WHO...

 -showed mercy to a sinner just as he would show mercy to me.

-invited the outcast to join him

-encourages me to say I am sorry

-wants me to always be in communion with Him

As the activity continued around the room, we heard many different expressions and interpretations of the same stories.  We shared our table with great friends and enjoyed hearing their statements of faith.

This is a simple activity that can be incorporated into family prayer time or meal time.  As food is served, one child could read a story aloud.  After a few moments of reflection, each family member could share their feelings concerning the story's message.  

**[For my non-Catholic friends, the beginning verses of this prayer are taken from the Angel's words to Mary announcing that she is with child and from Mary's visit to Elizabeth shortly thereafter.]

Today's post title from Joe Pinson's Come to My Heart