Lectionary Based Catechesis

Sharing the Sunday Scriptures Catholic Connections Handbook large view Covenant People 2009-2010

• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  

The core of catechetical and scriptural instruction focuses on the Sunday Gospel and how it relates to Catholic teaching (click here for each week's connection).  Students not only study the scripture, but also incorporate games, activities, popular culture, and real life experiences. 

Through this approach, students are also given the opportunity to teach the Sunday scripture to elementary students at St. Mary's School.  By sharing the scripture through these student developed and organized Sunday Sneak Peeks, students are crafting their own understanding of scripture and developing their own language of faith.   

• All students will also take turns filming and editing a real-life story version based on the themes of the Gospel.  Students will work to create wikis, podcasts, and other web media in an effort to evangelize the Good News!
  

What is the lectionary?
The lectionary contains the Scripture readings for all the eucharistic cele-
brations (Sundays and weekdays) of the liturgical year. The liturgical year,
and consequently the lectionary, begins with the first Sunday of Advent.
It continues through the Christmas season, after which Ordinary Time be-
gins. Ordinary Time is interrupted by the seasons of Lent and Easter, then it resumes and continues to the end of the liturgical year.

The Sunday readings are divided into three cycles that rotate year to year. The Gospel of Matthew is used in Year A, the Gospel of Mark in Year B, and the Gospel of Luke in Year C. The Gospel of John has a special place in the Lenten and Easter seasons of all three cycles.

Each Sunday in the lectionary includes three readings and a psalm. The
first reading is typically from the Hebrew Scriptures and is selected to relate with the Gospel reading. It often foreshadows something that will happen in the Gospel, and occasionally the Gospel even quotes it. The psalm usually complements the first reading and the Gospel. The second reading is from one of the letters of the Apostles. It is not chosen for its relationship with the other readings. Rather, it is intended to provide a semi-continuous reading of all the letters over the three-year period. You will find that it does not always relate easily to the other readings for the Sunday. The third reading is the Gospel, and it is taken from one of the four Gospels in the aforementioned fashion.

Why choose the lectionary as the basis for a Scripture resource for teens?

For many Catholics—including young people—exposure to the Bible comes
primarily at Mass, when the Scriptures are read from the lectionary. For these Catholics, the activities in class will review and reinforce the scriptural word they hear on Sunday. For those who do not attend Mass regularly, this approach will put them in touch with the Sunday Scriptures and may even serve as an invitation to celebrate the Word with the community in the Sunday Eucharist.

Also, the Catholic lectionary offers an organized and thorough method
for listening to God’s word as it comes through the Scriptures. The selection of Sunday readings for the three cycles of the liturgical year ensures that the principal portions of God’s word will be heard and considered over a suitable period of time.

Advantages of using a Lectionary Based Approach
Using a lectionary-based resource with an activities approach has a number of advantages, including the following:

• Excites Catholic youth about Scripture study. Most teens could think of at least ten things they would rather do than read the Bible. This book provides a variety of fun, exciting, and challenging ways of experiencing the Scriptures.
  
• Engages youth with the Scriptures. The Bible is a whole library of books of different literary forms, so it can be intimidating at first glance. Most teens have no idea where to begin or even why they should open the Bible. The activities in this book give young people a taste of what is inside the Bible and an invitation to read more.
  
• Promotes a lifelong habit of spending time with the Scriptures. Experiencing God’s word in a more personal and meaningful way can encourage young people to make the Bible a lifelong companion.
  
• Introduces the Scriptures as a tool for building relationships with God and others. The Scriptures include wonderful recipes for how to live in relationship with others and how to relate to God. Teens are always struggling with relationships. They are often pulling away from parents and moving toward peers. This resource pays special attention to relationships with one’s self, others, and God.
  
• Encourages adults who work with youth to spend more time with the Scriptures. Many adults working with youth—especially volunteers—are intimidated by anything related to the Scriptures or prayer. A synopsis of the Scripture readings for each Sunday is provided to familiarize such persons with the readings and to help them use the learning activities to open the Word with young people.
  
• Makes spending time with the Scriptures exciting and meaningful.  Approaching the Scriptures with a sense of adventure invites teens to unlock the mysteries found there. With some guidance and creative ways for unlocking these mysteries, teens will be encouraged to delve into them to find meaning for themselves.
  
• Explores symbols and rituals found in the Scriptures. Taking part in these activities, especially prayer experiences, allows young people to experience the rich symbolism in the passages they read. They will discover, firsthand, connections between Catholic rituals and rituals portrayed in the Scriptures.
  
• Helps young people experience the Scriptures as good news in a world filled with bad news. Young people today are in great need of hope. They see many reasons for despair as they look around at their families, their communities, and their world. The Scriptures can help them discover and celebrate the goodness in themselves and others as well as the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
  
• Begins with the Bible message. Many youth Bible programs begin with critical issues facing youth and try to weave the Bible in where they can. This approach is different in that it begins with the Scriptures and relates its message to developmental, relational, and societal issues in the lives of teens.
  
• Enables teens to make connections between the Scriptures and their own life. The Scriptures come alive when they find expression in life. The activities in class will attempt to engage teens and help them actively apply the Scriptures to their own experience.
  

Lectionary- Catholic Connections Links (pdf file)

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