Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious & spiritual formation experience for the youngest in our midst. This past July, I spent nine days immersed in Level III Formation, for children ages 9-12, to learn how to serve these children in the atrium; a sacred space of hospitality which focuses & gives priority to the child’s relationship with God.

Children in this particular atrium are really passionate about history and discovering their place in community and the world. They energetically concern themselves with what has come before in cosmic history—in salvation history—as well as what their contribution will be for the Kingdom of God.

They deeply realize that they are on a journey with God and others and because of their relationship with God, they desire to contribute to God’s Kingdom and its inbreaking.

Today, as with the child in the atrium, God actively invites us into that the journey ever more deeply.

The gospel presents us with the second of three predictions which Jesus makes about his coming passion, and it seems—as expected—to go right over the disciples’ heads or at the least it moves them to a bewildered silence. Instead they begin to discuss quietly amongst themselves who among them is greatest and while this might seem odd to us after what Jesus just said, in this first century society, concern and conversation about one’s place or status is quite normal. As a matter of fact, it’s everyday coffee shop talk.

What is pressing for us is to return to what Jesus said to the disciples prior to their reaction: “The Son of Man is paradidotai to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”Paradidotai… Greek for “to be handed over.”

While often translated as “betray,” the meaning of “to be handed over” can be understood—as one scripture scholar notes—“as the idea of God’s plan unfolding.”

This word is so important during this moment and through the passion itself,

that it—or some form of it—is repeated on fourteen occasions before the passion actually occurs in this Gospel.

What might this mean for us today?

It crystalizes that God is the agent of the Passion and, by extension, reinforces for us that God is intimately involved in creation and from a faith perspective in salvation history.

Now, we know this on some level and do we act like we know it… in our bones or do “we not get it” and live in bewildered silence?  

Let us keep in mind: God’s plan continues to unfold today. I wonder how do we contribute to God’s plan unfolding in the here and now? How do we cooperate with God for the inbreaking of the kingdom?

The Book of Wisdom and the Letter of James, both pointedly remind us what not to do:

·      let us not deliver others into the hands of their foes,

·      let us not torment and put others to the test,

·      let us not try one another’s patience or condemn others.

·      let us not to give into our jealousy, our envy, and our caustic desires.

·      let us not quarrel and fight;

Rather, let us remember that the “harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.” Let us be docile, rich in sympathy, kindly in our deeds, and sincere instead.

How might we do this?

Jesus provides a starting point by offering a point of focus for the disciples—front and center— the non-person of first century, the child—a most vulnerable person of this time. Jesus teaches the disciples to receive the child in his name; to care for the non-person, to provide for the non-person, to shelter the non-person, to protect the non-person.

Between this moment and during the unfolding toward the passion, Jesus continues to teach his disciples:

·      Preach in My name and invite others to do so

·      Attend to your pride

·      Seek the Kingdom of God

·      Uphold the commandments

·      Listen to those you see as blind for they will lead you

·      Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself

·      Give from your want; not simply from your excess.

Let us keep in mind: God’s plan continues to unfold today. How do we contribute to God’s plan unfolding in the here and now? How do we cooperate with God for the inbreaking of the kingdom?

Jesus provides a starting point by offering us a point of focus today—front and center—the non-person of the 21^st century. The homeless, the uninsured, the abused, and the dying; the under-resourced, the lonely, the unexpecting, and the trusting; the hungry, the thirsty, the weak and the shamed; the people with other ideas, languages, beliefs, and cultures; those who live in and those who live out of fear for a myriad of reasons. Jesus teaches the us to receive the these and ALL in his name.

Between this moment, today, and during the unfolding of the next seven Sundays, Jesus continues to teach us:

·      Preach in My name and invite others to do so

·      Attend to your pride

·      Seek the Kingdom of God

·      Uphold the commandments

·      Listen to those you see as blind, they will lead you

·      Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself

·      Give from your want; not simply from your excess.

God’s plan continues to unfold today. How do we contribute to God’s plan unfolding in the here and now? How do we cooperate with God for the inbreaking of the kingdom?

Let us be like the child in the Level III atrium, really passionate discovering our place in history, in community and the world.

Let us concern ourselves with what has come before in cosmic history, in salvation history, and what our contribution is to the fullness of realized the Kingdom of God.

Let us deeply grasp that we are on a journey with God and others and because of our relationship with God, let us each contribute to the fullness of the realization of God’s Kingdom through our one precious life in real and substantive ways.