In our Level 3 atrium, we have been focusing on the story of Abraham for the past seven weeks. Today we just happened to be at the binding of Isaac, which coincided with the first reading at Mass. I told the children that today's reading would be difficult to digest, and we would take our time with it.
Instantly identifying with Isaac, the children were naturally horrified at the Lord's command. We continued to read
Gen 22:5 - Abraham said to his servants: “Stay here with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over there. We will worship and then come back to you.”
The children pointed out that Abraham seemed to recognize that God had another plan. However, when he took and bound Isaac on the altar, they weren't sure about that trust. We finished the chapter and discussed what we had heard. I pointed out to them that at that time certain cultures worshiped their gods by offering the best that they had - even in the Jewish culture, the very best of the harvest was offered to God. When we had some time to refect on that theme, I asked the children to think back on the chapter we read, and lift out the defining moment. One child responded: "God said 'Stop!'" I asked them to ponder that and encouraged them to work in their journals. One child was clearly having a hard time with the subject matter. I sat with him a bit and he shared his horror at a parent killing his child. I asked him again about that defining moment and he responded (my responses are in blue):
"When God said 'Stop!'"
"I wonder if Abraham shared this story with Isaac?"
"Yes."
"I wonder if Isaac shared this story with his children?"
"Yes."
I left him with that and after a time I heard him tell a group of boys:
"This had to happen to Abraham so he could hear God's 'Stop' and pass it down through the generations so parents would always know not to kill their children."
Honestly, in the words of a 4 yo in the level 1 atrium, I had to sit with that a while.
In the peace of the Good Shepherd,
Beate
