In Unit 2, the emphasis is on making good choices. Children will come to understand that God is ready to forgive them when they sin.
		We Can Choose What is Good Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • learn that God gives each of us a conscience. • recognize the nature of sin. • understand that God is always ready to forgive us. Background This chapter introduces the children to the parable of "The Prodigal Son." According to the dictionary, a prodigal person spends time and money foolishly and lavishly. In reading the story, we can also reflect upon the Jewish father. He welcomes home his son who has neglected his religion and led a wayward life. The father loves his son so much that he already has forgiven him in his heart, and plans an elaborate party to celebrate his return. The older son must learn compassion and realize he has been loved all along. God's Mercy Chapter 5 entitles this parable "The Forgiving Father." It could also be called "The Merciful Father." As the father's mercy breaks through all barriers of guilt and fear, so mercy between God and us is as enduring. God anxiously awaits our return when we wander away from his goodness. God, our loving Father, welcomes us home to the comfort of his unconditional, unquestioning love. Our God of mercy is always there to greet us whenever we chose to return home.
		We Celebrate God's Forgiveness Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand the concept of reconciliation. • realize that reconciliation can be attained through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Penance. • become familiar with the Rite of Reconciliation. Background To reconcile means "to conciliate, to bring together." The sacrament of Reconciliation reconciles a sinner both to God and to the Church In this sacrament, the Church celebrates God's mercy and forgiveness. God offers us mercy; we offer God our childlike trust. We trust God, or forgiving Father, who waits eagerly for us to recognize our sin and need to restore our friendship with God. We have turned away from goodness; now we want to turn back to peace. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus preached a message of reconciliation. No matter what anyone has done, he told us, God reaches out to offer peace. God wipes away every sin when we seek forgiveness. God fills us with love. The Gift of Peace At the Last Supper, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you" (John 14:27). This is true. Our peace comes from a merciful God who loves us unconditionally and never turns away from us. During the Eucharist, we celebrate God's peace, which Jesus came to give to us. In the Penitential Rite at the beginning of Mass, we confess that we have sinned, and we ask God's mercy. Now we are ready to live together in peace.
		We Think About Our Choices Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand that sin turns us away from God. • understand the differences among a mistake, a venial sin, and a mortal sin. • use the Ten Commandments to make an examination of conscience. Background Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13 and 10:4 tell us that God gave the Hebrew people the Ten Commandments. These commandments became a covenant between Yahweh and the Hebrew people. The idea that a god would give laws to his people was a new one in the ancient world. Cultures other than the Israelites believed that their laws were made by humans. The Israelites maintained that the law was the revealed will of their God. Rules for the Community The Israelites needed rules that would help them live together as a community. Stealing, adultery, lying, killing, and violence were acts that divided their community. The Israelites, wandering in the desert, needed to be able to trust one another. These commandments gave them guidelines for living together in peace and harmony. The commandments show an order of conduct. When humans place God first, everything else falls into place. When humans recognize that God created them, they understand that all creation deserves respect. When they respect the rights of others, they build a strong community. So the commandments represent a bond between God, the Creator, and the Israelites, and between God and us.
		We Say We Are Sorry Prior to presenting each chapter, refer to the TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME pages in your child's book, or print out these pages from TAKE HOME FAMILY TIME. Learning Focus This chapter will help the children • understand that prayer brings us closer to God. • learn a prayer of sorrow. • realize that the Holy Spirit guides us. Background John the Baptist preached repentance. People flocked to the river to hear John urge his listeners to live a good life. He encouraged them to move beyond words to actions. He warned them that "every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:10). Some listeners opened themselves to the Holy Spirit working through John. They vowed to change their ways. Their first act of contrition that demonstrated their willingness to change was their baptism in water. This tangible act symbolized the change that had taken place within them. Celebrating Contrition Just as the Spirit called the people who heard John's preaching, the Spirit calls us to feel contrite, to repent, and to change our ways. Our contrition is our desire for God's forgiveness. Contrition is a lifelong attitude toward ourselves and toward God. We know God's goodness and mercy; we know our own flaws and failings. God created the universe, yet not even a sparrow falls but that this loving God cares about it. Our God is an awesome God.