The Serenity Prayer God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.
Today’s Checklist “Bless the Broken Road” take-up What is Grace? Sacramental awareness vs. sacramental dullness Debate preparation
Christian perspective God created us and the entire world to exist in his presence That makes everything sacred This perspective can open up a whole new world for us
What is Grace? Grace is the sustaining and transforming self-gift of God that is always being offered to us is in all of creation means God is with us and for us "Then feed my sheep"
Grace Revealed How is God’s grace revealed to us? He speaks to us using the human language of physical reality through the material and social world By recognizing the many hints of God’s grace in our life, we experience sacramentality in the broadest sense of the term God’s loving presence is made visible and tangible in our life here and now
Examples from the Bible Jesus described God’s worldly presence using images from nature Fish, birds, trees, everyday lives of people Prodigal son
Grace through friendship God reveals himself to us through our human relationships Real friends communicate on a deeper level – by listening and responding Imagine your closest friend goes away for four years, and cannot communicate with you How does your friend continue to be present to you?
“Perhaps the most basic sacrament of God’s saving presence to human life is the sacrament of friendship.” (Cooke, Sacraments and Sacramentality) Friendships come and go Nonetheless, they affect us for life We define ourselves by our relationships with others Our personal friendships reveal God’s friendship with us, as well We make room for God in our friendships when they are founded in love
Sacramental skills 1) Listening for God general receptivity aids us in overcoming dullness affirming & non-judgmental opening up to the outpouring of experiences through which God constantly speaks to us
2) Responding to God Keeping the conversation flowing How we interact with others, our world, and how we treat ourselves. How we react to the needs of others. Respond to God’s loving presence in faith and friendship
Your turn In groups of four, brainstorm… Sacramental awareness Sacramental dullness - Sources- Causes - Cures for sacramental dullness
Debate preparation Final checklist Who is responsible for oral delivery of each part of your team’s presentation? Who is responsible for note- taking? Who will submit a written copy of your presentation (arguments, rubric, etc.)?