Last Sunday was one of those great days in the True Vine Atrium when the children were making connections. In preparation for a baptism, several of us were sitting together making cards for the baby. When the children want to make baptismal cards we set out all of the card materials for them to contemplate, copy and trace.
One six year old who hasn't yet seen all of the baptism materials was tracing a picture of the priest with his hand extended over the baptismal font. "What's the priest doing?" she asked.
I looked at her drawing. "Oh-- we've seen that gesture before, haven't we?" I asked.
An older girl leaned across to see. "That's the same gesture the priest makes over the bread and wine!"
"And what's the priest asking for at that moment?" I asked.
Several children tried to answer at once. "He's asking God to make Jesus a part of the bread and wine for us so Jesus will be in us," the older girl answered.
An eight year old boy answered. "He's asking God to send Jesus in the water so Jesus will be in the baby. Hey-- The priest is making that gesture on my card too!" Everyone crowded in to see what the priest was up to now! "He has his hand out over the baby, the family, and everybody in the Church," the boy told us.
"What do you think is happening here?" I asked.
"He's asking God to send Jesus to be inside all of us!" he said. The children continued to talk happily about the sign of the cross Rev. Peter makes over the congregation as he blesses us each week.
Such beautiful connections!
Powerful. I love this story. Truly moving and well captured. We have so much to learn "out of the mouths of our children".
ReplyDeleteGreat picture.
I agree! One thing I love about the Catechesis (among many!)is that it gives the children language and opportunity to express their thoughts and allows us to share in their insights!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Mark! :)
ReplyDeletewow - very cool - wish I could've been there - I miss True Vine in those kinds of ways.
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