Listen to the Children

In the atrium, we've been unpacking the gestures of the Mass and the Biblical account of the last supper. The work of the last supper involves the cenacle, or upper room, 12 apostles, Jesus, a table set with a cloth, 2 candles, a miniature paten and miniature chalice. Together we contemplate as Jesus celebrates the Last Supper, a meal he had "longed to share," and speaks beautiful words of love for the very first time - "This is my body....this is my blood." 

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. ~ Luke 22:7-13

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve...While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." After singing songs of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives." ~ Mark 14:17, 22-24, 26

After reading the scripture, the catechist tells the child that in the Garden Jesus was arrested and the next day, he was crucified and died. The Good Shepherd gave his life for the sheep and for a brief moment darkness overcame the light (at that point, we put a small crucifix on the Last Supper table.) We know that wasn't the end of the story....
Often the child proclaims that Jesus rose, which was the case last Sunday. After contemplating the scene, now empty of people but containing a crucifix on the table, the little one asked, "Can I put him back? He rose!" She put Jesus back into the scene and, after pondering for a time, she very deliberately and slowly added the apostles back into the room. 

How beautifully she proclaimed the physical presence of the Risen Christ among us! Thank you Jesus, for the theology of the children