In Unit 4 participants will learn that the Israelites turned away from God and were forced to leave their homeland. They will read that they discovered that God was with them wherever they went and was always ready to welcome them back. In the same way, they will discover ways that Jesus guides us back to God.
		Disobedience and Guidance 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 how the Israelites forgot God and how God sent prophets to remind them of his will. • identify the prophets and their messages. • understand ways in which Jesus guides us back to God. Background One of the basic principles of twelve-step programs is the realization that we cannot achieve success on our own. We truly need the help of a "higher power." There is great wisdom in that realization. Many centuries ago, Solomon understood the importance of making God first in his life. When Solomon first became king, he demonstrated that God was the source of all wisdom and lasting happiness. Many of us do not have such wisdom. We mistakenly think that we don't need God. We look for happiness in the riches and "good things" in life. We may stop praying and worshipping. Sooner or later, we can lose our way. The Importance of Prophets The peoples of the Old Testament often abandoned God and thought they could achieve true happiness on their own. Each time, God sent them prophets, such as Elijah, Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah, to remind them of the truth. We always need God. Our happiness depends on him and doing God's will. Jesus continues to bring us the same message. We can follow Jesus by striving for justice in all our relationships.
		Exile and Remembrance 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 prophecies of the suffering and death of a messiah during the Exile. • understand what the exiles learned about their relationship with God. • identify how in the sacraments, especially in the liturgy, we meet Christ and receive grace. Background Have you ever been tempted to say "I told you so" when a friend or a child did not follow your advice and then got into trouble? God certainly could have said that to the kingdom of Israel. The people of the kingdom did not listen to the prophets. They disobeyed God and were invaded by the Assyrians, who took some of them hostage. Forced into exile, the Israelites felt lost. God, however, did not abandon them. God sent more prophets to guide them and restore their hope. Saving Grace God sent Jesus, God's own Son, to save all people from their sins. The Messiah suffered and died for the good of others. He was the prophet and the shepherd God sent to gather the lost sheep of Israel and of all nations. In every eucharistic liturgy, we celebrate the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We especially remember the Passion of our Lord during the Good Friday service. We reaffirm our belief in God's everlasting love. Even if we suffer "exile" because of our sins, God loves us and forgives us through Jesus Christ.
		Hope and Faithfulness 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 how the exiled Jewish people returned to a life of faith. • understand that for the Israelites, honoring the Sabbath was a way of honoring their covenant with God. • identify ways that we, as Catholics, are called to practice our faith. Background Everyone becomes discouraged. At times, life may seem overwhelming. We feel tired and hopeless, much like the "dry bones" in the prophecy of Ezekiel that is discussed in this chapter. The people of Israel and Judah probably had feelings of hopelessness during their exile in Assyria and in Babylon. After a while God changed their situation and brought them back to their own country. God helps us endure our times of sadness and suffering. God breathes new life into us, sending the Spirit, a spirit of hope and faithfulness. To Have Hope Always Awareness of God's presence and goodness indeed transforms us. Just as the returning exiles who rebuilt the Temple and worshiped God anew, we can put new energy into living as God's children. This chapter reviews the precepts of the Church, which spell out our minimum obligations as Catholics. The chapter also reviews our call to trust in God's promises and to have hope always, even during "dry spells" and times of hardship. The Book of Ruth is also covered. Ruth is an excellent role model for living with faith, hope, and love.
		Trust 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 • understand what supplication is and how Esther's prayer is an example of it. • realize that we, like Esther, can pray to help us meet life's challenges. • discover that faith is necessary for prayer. Background For many of us, prayer is only about petition. We ask God for the things we need or think we need. Sometimes it may seem that God does not hear our prayers or that God chooses not to answer them. But petitions represent just one form of prayer. The true purpose of prayer is not to "get things" but to change us. Prayer enables us to be more trusting of God's goodness and plan for our happiness. Prayer also gives us the courage to do what we can to make God's will happen. Ultimately, prayer serves to strengthen our bond with God and change the way we live. Persistent Prayer The story of Queen Esther in the Old Testament and the Parable of the Persistent Widow in the New Testament are similar. These women persistently asked for what they needed. God took care of their needs. More important, both women did their part to make God's will a reality. Our own prayer should follow the examples of these two women. We must trust in God's power and goodness and persist in prayer, even when answers do not seem forthcoming.