Unit 4 concentrates on the events observed during Holy Week. This study will enhance understanding of the central doctrines of faith and the meaning of salvation from sin. Chapter 13|Chapter 14|Chapter 15|Chapter 16
		Jesus’ Persecution Refer to pages 123–124 in your young teen’s book to help in preparing for Chapter 13. Learning Goals Participation in this chapter will help young people • become aware of the events that preceded Jesus’ suffering and death. • understand that Jesus died to accomplish the will of the Father, to redeem all and offer everlasting life. • realize that Jesus’ love was so great that he gave his life for all of humankind and that all are called to make sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom. The Four Last Things All four evangelists recount the Passion and death of Jesus in their Gospels. Although the accounts differ in detail, the essential truth remains the same: Jesus, the Son of God, died a human death. Reflection on the Passion and death of Jesus reveals to us the extent of God’s great love for us. Jesus accepted his death proving beyond doubt that God’s love is without limits. These Gospel accounts also lay the foundations for the Church’s belief in the "four last things"—death, judgment, heaven, and hell. Death is not the end of human life, but the beginning of new, everlasting life. After death God judges us on the basis of how well we have loved during life. Those who truly love God will spend eternity in God’s presence (heaven). Those who do not love God will spend eternity separated from God (hell). Reflection on the Paschal mystery—Jesus’ Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension—enables us to gain perspective on the times of suffering in our own lives. For those who have faith, Christ is with them during their suffering, redeeming it, and making it a resurrection experience. Family Activity Talk about popularity and peer pressure. Brainstorm situations in everyday life that might make a young person feel rejected or ridiculed. Use one of these situations for discussion. During the discussion point out that some people rejected Jesus. Jesus is now with us and ready to help us through difficult times and that we can pray for the strength to resist all forms of peer pressure. Back to top
		Jesus’ Passion Refer to pages 131–132 in your young teen’s book for a choice of things to do at home. Learning Goals Participation in this chapter will help young people • understand the Passion of Jesus through the Triduum liturgies. • know that Jesus experienced loss, betrayal, and pain as a human and that his death secured everlasting life. • recognize the call to repent and renew a commitment to Christ. Sorrow for Sin The Church remembers Jesus’ Passion in the liturgies of the Easter Triduum. The word triduum means "three." The Easter Triduum refers to the period from Holy Thursday night, when Jesus celebrated Passover with the Apostles, to Easter Sunday at sundown. We realize that human sin is the reason Jesus sacrificed himself and suffered death. We recognize the gravity of sin in the crucifixion, and experience contrition. Contrition, in turn, leads us to seek reconciliation with God and with others. During the Triduum, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery of Christ. Mass on Holy Thursday night recounts the Last Supper and institution of the Eucharist. The Good Friday service commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus on the cross. The Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday night anticipates the Resurrection and celebrates God’s saving actions. The Easter Sunday Mass celebrates the Resurrection itself. Entering into the Paschal mystery—reflecting on the Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus—can be a time of conversion. Christ truly becomes a part of our lives when we begin to see our lives in the light of Christ. Family Activity Explain that every Christian culture has its own artistic rendering of the cross. Gather a variety of pictures of different crosses. Explain how the standing crosses of the British Isles were like Alaskan totem poles, telling the story of Christ and the first apostles. Have each family member draw a "story" cross, including scenes from family experiences to show how God helped them get through times of suffering. Back to top
		The Resurrection and the Call to Discipleship Refer to pages 139–140 in your young teen’s book for a choice of things to do at home. Learning Goals Participation in this chapter will help young people • strengthen their belief in the Resurrection of Jesus. • understand that the risen Christ calls all members of the Church to discipleship as religious or lay people. • recognize that God offers grace through the Holy Spirit. The Nature of Grace Grace is a gift freely given to us by God. We do not earn it by doing a certain amount of work; instead, it is an intrinsic part of our ongoing relationship with God. We receive grace because of God’s initiative, not our own. We need the grace of the Holy Spirit working within us to transform us into God’s likeness and goodness. Our efforts can only control how "open" or "closed" we are to receiving God’s freely given gift. The Risen Christ’s appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36-49) teaches us about the nature of grace. Without Christ, the disciples could do nothing; with Christ, however, they overcame their fears. Their experience shows that a Christian moral life is only possible in partnership with Christ and with other members of the Church. Thus the more we open ourselves to friendship with Jesus, the more we can grow in personal holiness and contribute to the moral growth of others. Within the Church, God especially calls all members to cooperate with Christ in his work of saving the world. In the workplace, the family, and sociopolitical settings, we are to act as grace-filled Christians, encouraging one another in the journey toward God’s kingdom. Family Activity Work together to create collages of images that show people serv-ing others and helping to bring resurrection experiences to others. Talk about the collages and explain why family members included certain illustrations. Back to top
		Pentecost Refer to pages 147–148 in your young teen’s book for a choice of things to do at home. Learning Goals Participation in this chapter will help young people • become familiar with the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, upon the disciples. • understand Pentecost as the birth of the Church. • deepen their belief in Christ and recognize the gifts of the Spirit that enable them to imitate Christ. Renewing the Covenant The holy day Christians know as "Pentecost" was also known as "Shavuot" to the ancient Israelites. It was a harvest festival, celebrated at the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. On Shavuot, people brought the first fruits of their harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem. In addition to Shavuot being an agricultural holiday, Jews today celebrate the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses, the sign of God’s ongoing covenant with the Jewish people. On Pentecost, Christians celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the apostles, and the formation of the Christian Church. As a result of the outpouring of the Spirit (God’s self-revelation), the apostles fearlessly preached in Jerusalem. They converted thousands of people to the Gospel of Jesus, to the new covenant with God. God continues revelations in prayer, especially communal prayer. The Spirit empowers us in the same ways the first disciples were empowered on Pentecost. Through the Spirit we renew our covenant with God; we speak God’s words of love to others through our words and actions. Family Activity Write and display the word empowerment. Point out that before Pentecost, the fears of the disciples were keeping them from doing anything positive. The Holy Spirit, however, filled them with faith and empowered them to go out and spread the good news. Discuss fears that may prevent people today from reaching out to others or trying to achieve their goals. Brainstorm ways young people can help to empower themselves and others with a positive change in attitude. Discuss how members of your family feel empowered to make specific positive changes in the world.