Unit 1 begins the participants’ study of the Old Testament. They will read the story of their ancestors in faith—the Hebrew people. Catholics study this heritage because it is so closely linked to our own. Learning about the faith of these first believers is a good way to understand the foundations of our own faith.
		Revelation and Response 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 Abraham and Sarah's trust in God makes them models of faith for us today. • learn why Abraham is considered the patriarch of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. • understand that God reveals himself to us in words and deeds. Background The Scriptures are the living Word of God. They tell the story of our faith. That story began almost 4,000 years ago with Abraham and Sarah. God's revelation to them forever changed their lives and the lives of their descendants. Despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Abraham and Sarah remained faithful in their response to that revelation. Their faith went on to become a model for Christians, Jews, and Muslims throughout the world. An Ongoing Dialogue God's revelation is an ongoing dialogue with humanity. God's revelation comes through creation, the people of Israel, Scripture, and God's Son, Jesus. God invites us into a loving relationship. We are called to respond to God's invitation with praise and thanksgiving and with faith, hope, and charity. Just as God answered the prayers of Abraham and Sarah and made them the parents of Isaac and later of the nation of Israel, so God answers our prayers today. We believe that God continues to be with us, leading and guiding us through the Church. We can see God at work in our church community–through the teaching of the magisterium and through the actions of all the faithful.
		Sacrifice and Promise 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 because of his faith, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son for God. • understand that faith is an essential element of our relationship with God. • learn that when we receive the Eucharist, we receive new life in Christ, who sacrificed his own life for us. Background Genesis 22:1-18 is about Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac for God. We find it difficult to understand how Abraham could accept the idea of murdering his own child. It is hard for us to imagine that God would test anyone's faith in this way. We doubt that we could rise to such a challenge. In the story, however, we discover a loving God who did not really expect such a terrible sacrifice. The story also reveals an amazing level of faith on the part of Abraham. Abraham trusted that somehow God would make this impossible situation okay. This deep trust in God is not as unattainable in our lives as it might seem. We all face extraordinary challenges that test our faith. When we remember that God is on our side, we can work through the most troublesome experiences with the faith of Abraham. New Life The story also reminds us that God loves us so much as to sacrifice God's own Son, Jesus, to free us from our sins. Because of this perfect sacrifice, we can hope in God's promise of everlasting life. The eucharistic celebration is an expression of this hope; we believe that the bread and wine are truly the Body and Blood of Christ, sacrificed so that we might live in everlasting happiness with God.
		Covenant and Commitment 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 is always faithful to his promises. • understand how they can become covenant people. • identify commitments they, as Catholics, can make to their faith. Background A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more people. In Bible times, people "sealed" covenants with symbolic rituals such as the laying on of hands. In the Old Testament the most important covenant was the relationship between God and God's people. God renewed the covenant with Abraham through Jacob, the son of Isaac. Jacob's story reinforces the belief in God's faithfulness in keeping promises. God promised Jacob many descendants, divine protection, and land if Jacob would commit his life to the covenant. God and Jacob kept this agreement. Our Commitment to the Covenant The covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is renewed through Jesus. We live as covenant people when we believe in Jesus, follow his teachings, and participate in the Mass and sacraments. As Christians, we also live out our covenant with God in the decisions and actions of ordinary, everyday life. Christians may also be called to show commitment in more profound ways. Saint Paul, for example, was martyred for his faith.
		Piety and Prayer 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 about Joseph and his devotion to and trust in God. • understand that they should trust God. • learn that it is important to overcome distractions from God and to stay focused on his will. Background Joseph, the eleventh of Jacob's twelve sons, exemplified the piety and prayer that we are called to have as God's people. Genesis 37 and 39-45 recount how Joseph never doubted God's love, even after being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and unjustly thrown into jail in Egypt. Despite all the misfortunes that befell him, Joseph continued to pray to God with love and faith. He trusted in God's providence, and eventually his prayers were rewarded. The Quality of Our Prayer Sometimes when we describe people as "pious," we mean that they are fastidious about saying prayers, going to Mass, or acting reverently or ceremoniously. But true piety, a gift of the Holy Spirit, means "faithfulness or loyalty." Piety helps us remain true to our faith, even when it may seem God is not listening. The story of Joseph can be a starting point for assessing our own piety and prayer. Do we really believe in God's love? Do we know, beyond a doubt, that God will never betray us? Do we trust that God can bring good out of bad times and crises? Mary, the mother of Jesus, had such piety. She knew that God was always a loyal and true friend. God is always with us, caring for us and working for our good.