2.6 Reconciliation

Class Teacher		Class
Term	1    2    3    4	Weeks	1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10

This unit reflects on the human experience of forgiving others and being forgiven. The parable of the Prodigal Son is presented and explored. It presents God as loving and forgiving. The unit explores the concept of reconciliation and living together in peace. It introduces the Sacrament of Penance, exploring how the Catholic community celebrates reconciliation with God and one another.

SCRIPTURE

DOCTRINE

Students are introduced to doctrine through Scripture and the living Tradition of the Church.

Luke 15:11-24	The Prodigal Son	God always forgives us
		Jesus taught forgiveness and peace
		We have free will: we can choose to do what is right and wrong
		Sin is choosing to turn away from God
		In the Sacrament of Penance, God welcomes and forgives us

OUTCOMES AND SUGGESTED ASSESSMENTS

RESOURCES

Suggestions for determining students development towards the achievement of the outcomes are included below:

S1.5.2 express an understanding of God as loving and forgiving

The students typically might:

• recount/retell the story of the Prodigal Son
• respond to the story: oral or written, art, movement, wondering etc

S1.7.3 demonstrate a basic understanding of the Sacrament of Penance

The students typically might:

• identify and sequence the main parts of the Sacrament of Penance

S1.10.1 compose and pray simple prayers of thanks, praise and penitence

The students typically might:

• write a simple sorry prayer

S1.10.2 demonstrate familiarity with some formal prayers

The students typically might:

• know the Act of Contrition

Date Unit Commenced:
Date Unit Completed:
Signed:

Unit Content A:  The Prodigal Son

The parable of the Prodigal Son tells us about God's love and forgiveness.

Students will:

• explore the story of The Prodigal Son and what it tells us about God's love and forgiveness 
•  reflect on the choices they make and the consequences of these choices
• explore experiences of being forgiven and forgiving others

Teaching and Learning Strategies	LE	S	C	LR	Registration Date
Pre-assessment, discuss what forgiveness is, recall any bible stories that children know about forgiveness. Invite the students to identify ways that they know they are loved within their family situation. Think of a person who loves you and describe how they show their love. Think of someone you love and describe how you show them you love them. Tell the story of the Prodigal Son, KWL ch 10, Part 1, pp106-111 (Luke 15:11-24) using 2D masters on RE Online. Refer to 'Resource Sheet 1' for script from KWL. Present four or five 'I wonder' statements from KWL p112 to engage students in wondering together about the story. Finish with the question: I wonder which person in the story is most like God? 'I wonder' statements on p112. Finish with: 'I wonder why Jesus told this story.' Remember there are no 'right' responses to these statements. Listen to and engage with all contributions. Invite students to choose a part of the story they would like to illustrate. Divide class into seven groups to present a liquid picture of the story. Each group is given a phrase or two representing a key part of the story. Refer to 'Resource Sheet 2' or use similar text in R Wintour, Just Imagine 3, p51. As a group, the students are given time to make up a simple action to go with their part of the story. As a group, they learn the words and action to present together. Choose one person from each group to be a leader. This student will step forward, and say the phrase with action and the rest of their group will repeat the words and action twice. When all groups are ready arrange groups in the correct sequence for telling the story. Tell students we will be retelling the story of the Prodigal Son. Present the story in the following way: (You may need a couple of practice runs.) Teacher introduces the story with opening statement. First group will begin with student leader, stepping forward and saying the phrase with action which the group then repeats twice. The group then freezes. This process is repeated for each group until the last group finishes. The teacher concludes with a suitable ending. Identify the choices of the characters in the Prodigal Son. How did these choices make or break relationships? Identify choices they make. Classify these into choices that make or break relationships. Design a Heart. On one side of the heart children write about how it feels to know God always loves and forgives them. On the other side decorate with sequins, glitter and stickers etc. These hearts can be used in prayer celebration. Learn a reconciliation song, use one of the songs to be used in ther celebration of Reconciliation. Prayer celebration: Create a sacred space using purple coloured cloth, candle, Bible. Gather in a circle (sitting) with each student holding their 'Welcome Home' heart. Light candle and make Sign of the Cross. Proclaim the word (Lk 15:11-24). Invite each student to place their heart in the sacred space saying 'God loves me' as they place their heart. Shared prayer of thanksgiving for people who love us and help us make choices that build relationships. Prayer from KWL p113. Sing the reconciliation song they have learnt.

Unit Content B:  The Sacrament of Penance

The Sacrament of Penance is the Church's celebration of God's love and forgiveness.

Students will:

• explore experiences of being forgiven and forgiving others 
•  learn prayers of forgiveness
• learn about God's forgiveness through the symbols and rituals of the Sacrament of Penance

Teaching and Learning Strategies	LE	S	C	LR	Registration Date
Exploring the mending of a broken heart, eg use a heart created last in the last lessons and cut in half. Discuss the process of bringing parts together and mending them. Read KWL ch 10, Part 2, pp114-117. Engage with the first two or three 'I wonder' statements in KWL p118. How does it feel to say sorry and what words and gestures can be used? Lead children through a reflection on: What does forgiveness feel like? smell like? taste like? look like? sound like? eg: Forgiveness feels like a warm bubble bath / Forgiveness smells special like my mum's favourite perfume / Forgiveness sounds like happy voices laughing / Forgiveness tastes delicious like a baked lamb dinner / Forgiveness looks like a great big hug / Forgiveness is like being welcomed home. Brainstorm ideas. Invite children to paint one of their responses, eg Forgiveness feels like a big hug from Mum. On a strip of paper, write a sentence to go with their painting - Forgiveness .... Adults could be doing this while children are painting. Introduce the terms 'sacrament of penance' and 'reconciliation' and define them. Use caption cards to outline the liturgical rite for the Sacrament of Penance. Talk about each part. [A] Students illustrate in boxes the main parts of the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance in sequence. Cut out and match text to the appropriate sections. Refer to 'Resource Sheet 3' Watch a video about the Sacrament of Penance. [A] Introduce students to the short Act of Contrition, KWL p203. Able to say the short Act of Contrition or read the prayer. Students are asked to think about ideas to be included in a short 'sorry' prayer to God. Brainstorm ideas and then make into a class prayer using joint construction technique. Students could also journal their own sorry prayer. Students need to know that their own sorry prayers will not be shared with anyone. Prayer Celebration: Create a non-sacramental liturgy of forgiveness. Create a sacred space using coloured cloth, candle, Bible. Sing a suitable song about peace or forgiveness. Welcome the students and make the Sign of the Cross. Use the story of the Prodigal Son as the Scripture reading. Remind children about 'reconciliation' meaning to bring together to make peace. Each student around the circle is invited to share one idea about why it is important to say sorry to those we have hurt, and to God. Play some quiet music and invite students to: 1. close their eyes and still their bodies, hands resting on their laps (10 seconds) 2. become aware of their own breathing (30 seconds) 3. notice their breathing in and their breathing out (30 seconds) 4. imagine as they breathe in they are breathing in God's love and forgiveness (1 minute) 5. imagine as they breathe out they are breathing out all the things they would like to say sorry for (1 minute) 6. listen to their breathing again (15 seconds) 7. listen to all the sounds they can hear inside and outside the room (15 seconds) 8. open their eyes on the count of three Say the Act of Contrition together. Sing a suitable song about peace or reconciliation or God's love.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION FOR TEACHERS

"I have often said, 'I forgive you', but even as I said these words my heart remained angry or resentful. I still wanted to hear the story that tells me that I was right after all; I still wanted to hear apologies and excuses; I still wanted the satisfaction of receiving some praise in return - if only the praise for being so forgiving!

But God's forgiveness is unconditional; it comes from a heart that does not demand anything for itself, a heart that is completely empty of self-seeking. It is this divine forgiveness that I have to practise in my daily life. It calls me to keep stepping over all my arguments that say forgiveness is unwise, unhealthy, and impractical. It challenges me to step over all my needs for gratitude and compliments. Finally, it demands of me that I step over that wounded part of my heart that feels hurt and wronged and that wants to stay in control and put a few conditions between me and the one whom I am asked to forgive.

This 'stepping over' is the authentic discipline of forgiveness. But every time that I can step or climb over that wall, I enter into the house where the Father dwells, and there touch my neighbour with genuine compassionate love."

(Henri J M Nouwen)

• When have I found it difficult to forgive someone?
• What sometimes holds me back from forgiving others?
• Recall a time when you have offered forgiveness to someone. What was the experience like for you and the person involved?

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church are included below as information for teachers. They present the Church's teachings contained in the unit.

1435  Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.

1449  The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the Resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins
in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

1443  During his public life Jesus not only forgave sins, but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: he reintegrated forgiven sinners into the community of the People of God from which sin had alienated or even excluded them. A remarkable sign of this is the fact that Jesus receives sinners at his table, a gesture that expresses in an astonishing way both God's forgiveness and the return to the bosom of the People of God.

1480  Like all the sacraments, Penance is a liturgical action. The elements of the celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience and elicit contrition, and an exhortation to repentance; the confession, which acknowledges sins and makes them known to the priest; the imposition and acceptance of a penance; the priest's absolution; a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and dismissal with the blessing of the priest.

SCRIPTURE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Luke 15:11-24  The Prodigal Son

This is a beautiful and familiar parable of forgiveness. The younger son squanders his family inheritance and yet the father welcomes him back into the family as if nothing has happened. This is what God is like. The words "lost and found" are repeated several times in the text. The young son is "lost and found". But no doubt the father felt "lost and found" again when his son returned home. The older brother seems to remain lost because he cannot yet understand and accept such abundant forgiveness. In fact the Greek text hints at this. It uses two different words for son. When it refers to the younger brother after he has returned he is (uios) the adult son. But the elder brother is always referred to as (teknon) child son. The younger brother "came to his senses" (verse 17) and realized who he was and what he had done and forgave himself enough to return home. He matured and grew up.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - A

The parable of The Prodigal Son, also called the parable of the Forgiving Father or the Loving Father, is often used in association with reconciliation and forgiveness. The story has the power to teach and challenge. Jesus used parables to teach. Often the parable contained a paradox that challenged the accepted ways. Parables have many layers of meaning and the parable will speak to each person in different ways at different times.

In this parable we encounter the unexpected. The return of the undeserving son is celebrated when we might have expected him to be chastised. Why? Engaging with your students in wondering what this parable is about will help each student to 'find their meaning', to engage creatively and to discover something about the lavish nature of God's love.

In this presentation of the parable, the focus is on the first section, the story of the younger son. The verses dealing with the elder brother are not told. The story ends as the father begins the celebration of his son's return home. The father in this story loved his son so much that he gave him the freedom to make his own choices. The father waited with open arms and ready forgiveness to welcome his son back regardless of what he had done. The story reveals to us the lavish love and forgiveness of God. God's love is beyond the limitations of our understanding. Through the power of the parable story, foundations can be laid for the students to develop an understanding of people loving and forgiving.

It is important to recognise that students will focus on different aspects of the story. Some parts may relate more to their experience or understanding than others. Try to really 'hear' and 'receive' what they are saying. In so doing we model for the students the importance of listening to and learning from others.

Human beings are born with the grace of free will and therefore have the capacity to sin. Sin is the breaking of relationship, the turning away from God. We are also graced with the capacity to love and the capacity to reconcile. One of the most powerful demonstrations of love is forgiveness, since Jesus said that the greatest expression of love is laying down one's life for another. We all need forgiveness, for sin alienates us from God and others. Students could be guided to see the choices that build relationships and choices that break or erode relationships. They could begin to start seeing that asking for forgiveness and forgiving others is very much part of everyday life. We all need to do it. Human beings need forgiveness. People do not like feeling badly about what they have done. They want to feel friendly and loving towards others. When this happens it is a time of celebration.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION - B

The Church celebrates the forgiving presence of God through the Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament ritualises, through word, gesture and symbols the restoration of relationship with God and others. Through this sacrament, the Church community continues Jesus' ministry of forgiveness.

Human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, are called into relationship with God. As such we are called to live in right relationship with ourselves, others, God and all creation. God has given us the freedom to make choices. Sometimes we make choices that enhance life and build relationship. Other times we make choices that diminish life and break relationships. 'Sin' is the term used to describe actions that erode or destroy our relationship with God and others. It is important that students come to see that they are capable of making both 'good' choices and 'not so good' choices and that these choices can affect others. The unit is laying the foundations for future understanding of sacraments and issues of ethics and morality in the Christian life.

Human beings need to be forgiven. We often find we have damaged relationships by the way we behave - we sin by failing to love. For a relationship to be restored there needs to be reconciliation - an apology, willingness to forgive and healing. Hence, reconciliation is a deeply human experience. It is also a deeply religious experience. God forgives us continuously. God, who is forgiving, invites us to forgive others and to ask for forgiveness. Engaging with the students in wondering about reconciliation will help them to begin to reflect on the choices they make in relation to others. It is important students are given opportunity to wonder about and reflect on their own experiences of forgiveness - both being forgiven and forgiving another.

The Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation is the sacramental way that people seek and experience forgiveness within the Catholic community. In the sacrament, Jesus, through the Church, in the words and actions of the priest brings God's forgiveness. The sacrament helps people take responsibility for their sins. They need to acknowledge them and confess them to God. As part of the sacrament people say sorry and receive God's forgiveness. Their relationship with others and, most importantly, with God is renewed. God's life of grace is restored in them and they are free to make other choices and grow in love and better ways of living.

It is important as we explore this liturgical story with students that they see the celebration of forgiveness and reconciliation as an action of God through the Church community. Focusing on the idea of coming together in peace - an act that should be celebrated - will allow students opportunity to wonder about and bring to the liturgical story their own experiences.