Month: May 2012

Religious Studies: The Human Experience Reflection #1

Directions: Answer ONE of questions below.  The page titled, Reflection Rubric,  will be used to access this reflection.  It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages. When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S.

Experience I:  Homeless people of New York City

Jeffrey Azize said, “Everyone lives differently.  When you go somewhere out of your own comfort zone; out of your own realm, and you enter someone else’s; that’s learning”.  In other words, Jeff is saying the same thing as the proverb, “Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile [1.6 km] in his shoes.”

In John 8:12-15 it says, Again Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the light of the world…you judge by human standards; I judge no one.'”  In Matthew 7:1-2 it says, Do not judge so that you may not be judged.  For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” 

Questions: Is Jesus, in scripture, saying the same thing as Jeffery?  Explain why or why not. Christian Slater, an actor, says, “Good judgement comes from experience. Sometimes, experience comes from bad judgement”.  Jeffry in the movie exemplifies Slater’s quote.  Explain how Jeffry and his brother’s experience as a homeless people provides evidence that Slater’s quote is true.

You may want to read these texts in context to help you with your response.  The Oremus Bible Browser will aid you in doing this.

OR

Jeffrey Azize stated: “You become more humble… you can feel the humility that the homeless people go through. And I don’t know. It’s different… my whole heart feels different.

In Matthew 18.4, it says, “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  In Colossians 3:12-17, it is written, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”  You may want to read these texts in context to help you with your response.

Questions:  What does it mean to be humble or have humility?  Explain why  humility would be one of the qualities of holiness?  How is it possible for a person to have humility in our 21st century world when our society teaches us to be competitive; encouraging us to be number 1? 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart represents Christ’s love for all mankind.

O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessings on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.

Reflection Question
Think back on the times or a time when your heart was bursting of the power of God’s love, how did it make you feel?

Discussion Question
What can you do to help foster the “Sacred Heart” for others around you?

The Paschal Mystery

The liturgy of the Church, the celebration of the sacraments, and the seasons of Lent and Easter are particular times when we pay attention to what Jesus Christ has done for us through his passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Yet these are not the only times when we experience the Paschal Mystery. It is part of our everyday life; it is the undercurrent of all that we do and all that we are. – Loyola Press

Reflection Question
Think about your own life. What is a dying or rising that you have experienced today, this week, this year? Reflect on that experience in light of the event of Jesus Christ’s passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

Discussion Question
The Paschal Mystery illustrates to us how Jesus showed how new life can come from death. Can you think of a time where you found meaning/strength in tough times, where there was light in the darkness?

Vocations

“O Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishermen of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us” (Pope Paul VI launching the 1st World Day of Prayer for Vocations)

Reflection Question:

Vocations are a calling to serve the Lord and share your talents that God has provided, some examples would be to answer the call to enter a community of Faith such as a priest or nun or for the lay person whether it is the profession you choose or one’s decision to marry or not, God has a role for you.

What calling does God have for you?

Discussion Question:

The call for vocations is primarily focused on our youth, generally prior to adulthood. Does the call stop once one has chosen his career and become an adult or do you think we could be called throughout our life?

Prayer to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may all be made worthy to receive Holy Communion every day.

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us!

Amen.

Reflection Question
May is the month of Mary; take this time to reflect on what tremendous hardships she must have endured as the mother of Jesus.

Discussion Question
Even through those tremendous hardships, we feel/experience the loving, serenity of Mary, just as one sees with a mother and her child. When you think of the Mother Mary, what feelings come to you?

Religious Studies 25: Little Buddha Reflection Question

Instructions:  Answer the questions below.  The page titled, Reflection Rubric,  will be used to access this reflection.  It can be found on the left side (third from top) under pages.  When finished, print off your response and hand in or email it to Mr. S.

The movie involves two stories happening simultaneously.  One is the story of Prince Siddhartha and the other is the story involving Jesse Conrad.  

Jesse asks the Lama, “Was Buddha a God?”  The Monk responds with, “No, a real person.  Like Jesus.  Yes, like Jesus.”    Christians, on the other hand,  believe that Jesus is the Son of God, both human and divine. 1)   Do Buddhists believe the same thing, that is, Buddha (the enlightened Siddhartha) is both human and God?  Explain (you may have review what you have learned about Buddhism in class),  2)   How is the  story of Siddhartha similar to that of Jesus?  How is this story different to that of Jesus?  Provide at least two specific examples.  3)  What is the biggest difference between Buddhism and Christianity?  Explain your thinking.