 Peace |
Issue 123 |
Christmas - Awaiting the Prince of Peace
During the season of Advent, Christians around the world eagerly wait and pray for the coming of Jesus on December 25 th which is the celebration of Christmas. Jesus is the Christian Prince of Peace. It is worth considering what it was about Jesus that merited this title. The following passage is from the Gospel of Matthew, it records one of the most famous stories about Jesus.
The Loaves and the Fishes
Matthew 15: 29-37
Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. He went up onto the mountainside and sat down there. Large crowds came to him bringing with them cripples, the deformed, the blind, the mute, and many others besides. They laid them at his feet and he cured them. The result was great astonishment in the crowds as they beheld the mute speaking, the deformed made sound, cripples walking about, and the blind seeing. They glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said: "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd. By now they have been with me three days and they have nothing to eat. His disciples said to him, "How could we ever get enough bread in this deserted spot to satisfy such a crowd?" But Jesus asked them: "How many loaves of bread do you have?" "Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish." Then he directed the crowd to seat themselves on the ground. He took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. All ate until they were full. When they gathered up the left over fragments, they filled seven hampers.
What does this story have to do with Peace? There is an old saying: Peace begins when the hungry are fed. When looking at the story of the loaves and the fishes we can see that the saying may have its origins in the life and example that Jesus set. Jesus realised that to look after people and give them quality of life you must firstly tend to their needs. In the example of the gospel passage, Jesus did just this by feeding the hungry crowd. It was through this action and in looking after the poor and marginalised, that Jesus aimed to bring about peace in his troubled land.
In our global community today, there is a strong correlation between poverty and war. It is mainly in the poorest regions of the world such as in many of the countries of Africa and The Middle East where civil war and violence is most devastating. Without doubt, it is clear that in order to create a more peaceful world we must first follow Jesus' example and address the issue of poverty.
This year Caritas Australia has been involved in many different campaigns to help eliminate poverty and bring about peace. The activities that follow explore some of these campaigns as well as investigating other ways that you can become involved in bringing the spirit of peace alive this advent.
Activities across the Curriculum
1) Imagine that you are a Caritas worker and you have been invited to a school assembly to receive a $2000.00 cheque on behalf of Caritas that the school has raised for Project Compassion. Write a speech of thanks to the school. In your speech address the following:
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Greet the school body and thank them for their generosity.
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Explain who Caritas is and what they do.
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Outline the purpose of Project Compassion.
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Give details on how and what the money raised in Project Compassion is used for.
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Conclude with a statement of hope about Caritas.
In order to write the speech you must first complete the following:
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Go to the following site and read about this year's Project Compassion successes
www.caritas.org.au/ourwork/
projectcomp.htm. -
View the video about Cambodia which tells the story of Na Rin that was a feature of this year's Project Compassion Appeal.
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Surf the home pages of Caritas which give details about Caritas Australia:
www.caritas.org.au/whoweare/index.htm.
- When and why were the Millennium Development Goals written?
- What is the purpose of the Millennium Development Goals?
- List the 8 specific goals.
- Choose 2 goals and explain how you think the meeting of these goals will benefit people suffering from extreme poverty?
HSIE
1) One area of the world that suffers from lack of peace is The Holy Land ( Palestine and Israel). Go to the following site and read through the brief history of the question of Palestine: www.un.org/Depts/dpa/ngo/history.html.
Use the information from the site to create a time line of the key dates and events involved in the question of Palestine.
2) Watch the power point "Holy Land Peace is Possible" by clicking on the icon at: www.devp.org/testA/news/
communiques2005_35-e.htm.
View the slides then answer the following questions:
- Name the different groups of people that live in the Holy Land.
- What are the 3 points about why the time is right now to make peace?
- Finish the following quote: "Democracy is like a coin, it has two sides..."
- Explain this quote in your own words.
- What are four reasons why the opportunity is right today?
- List 5 different obstacles to peace.
- "Peace is Possible". Write 250 words about what the phrase "Peace is Possible" means for the situation in the Holy Land.
- What are 5 other messages from Caritas to help promote peace in this troubled region of the world?
Religious Education
1) Use the following quotes from two of last century's greatest peace workers to write a prayer about peace for advent:
Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and it is duty. Archbishop Oscar Romero
Peace is not merely the absence of tension, but the presence of justice and liberty. Martin Luther King Jr
2) Go to the following sites to research Martin Luther King Jr and Archbishop Oscar Romero. Find out what they did in their lives to bring about peace.
Martin Luther King:
- www.martinlutherking.org/
- www.mecca.org/~crights/dream.html
- myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=ml_king2
Oscar Romero
3) How did Archbishop Oscar Romero and Martin Luther King Jr live similar lives to Jesus?
b. Think of 5 things you can do before Christmas that will contribute to building peace in your school and wider community.
Community and Church Organisations
Pat Power the Catholic Archbishop of Canberra wrote an article in 2002 entitled: 'We need a war against poverty, not a war against terrorism'. This statement has never been more significant than it is today. The Australian Senate is currently considering changing laws in Australia in order to "Fight Terror". At the same time Australia has signed a global document called the Millennium Development Goals which are aimed at eradicating extreme poverty in our global community. Whilst some steps have been made, Australia has a long way to go in fulfilling its promises. What is your opinion on the priorities of the Australian government to "fight terror" and its complacency in "fighting poverty"? To help you form you opinion read the article at the following site: http://www.acbc.catholic.org.au/org/
acsjc/200510288.htm.
Each month, significant events for Indigenous Australians are noted and particular social justice issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are identified. Information and ideas for prayer and reflection are included. An excellent resource for parishes, schools and social justice groups, the diary is an educational and spiritual resource for all who wish to continue the journey towards justice for, and reconciliation with our Indigenous sisters and brothers.
Cost: $6.60 (inc. GST), plus postage. To download an order form, go to:
www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/content/
publications/social_justice_calendar.html
Other Useful Links
www.uq.net.au/cjpc/church.htm has excellent links for websites and organisations committed to peace and justice in Australia and worldwide
www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/index.shtml is the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council homepage
www.nccnsw.org.au/member/webcard/161.html is the Columban Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice