Self-Centered Old Ted. By Samara

 

With parties and gifts and applause in his head,

This was the life Ted had happily led.

He cared not much about the poor people he met,

He just remained, the proud, self-centered old Ted.

Gaming with friends and lazing around,

Building play tents and messing the ground.

With a thought about his future,

His parents turned pale.

But all they could do now was to scold him

And just wail.

A day came when there was a soft knock on his door,

The moment he opened it,

He saw a little boy standing there in dazzling white clothes.

The minute Ted saw him, he knew him at once.

He had seen the same boy in pictures and door fronts.

The little boy in his soft gentle voice said,

“Ted, how long will you run away from me?”

With an ashamed face and a tear in his eye,

Ted to all his bad habits, said goodbye.

He begged for forgiveness from his mum and dad

His dad replied, “Oh, you are such a good lad”.

His evil ways were mended and

With a smile on their faces, they could only thank

the infant Jesus through whom, all this had ended.

                                                                                                    ~ Samara Miriam Joe

Heart of Stone by Riya Ashish

 There was a boy, whose heart was made of stone,

And really, really cold;

But his story is yet to be told.

His name is Roy,

Oh, he was an ordinary boy….

Though there was one thing missing;

His heart was sinking

One sunny morning

While down the road he was walking…..

He saw an old beggar,

Who had some leather

He was sitting there yonder,

“Should I help him?” he wondered.

He decided to give the beggar some money

This to him was as soothing as honey.

He hurried down the road

As he had a train to board

But slowed down his pace

As he thought of the joy on the beggar’s face

That melted his heart

Like warm, sweet pineapple tarts.

He decided he should help

And pay more attention to yelps;

With that determination he went,

Helped his neighbor pay the rent

Did so many other things,

Like look for Ms. Maylie’s rings.

Ask me why??

You’ll soon find out. That’s not a lie!

But he was never the same

He was no more lame

His heart was now like a soft pillow

And love from his heart billowed.

There was a rumor in town,

Everyone had this thought profound

That stone hearted Roy

Was finally a loving boy!

As for Roy he was glad

As his heart was no longer sad

He finally found a remedy

That could cure anybody;

Whose heart was made of stone,

And really, really cold!

-by Riya Ashish, Class 7,OLSH

Mother's Birthday by Rozanne Neil

 Today is my mother’s birthday,

Having fun everyday

She teaches me how to do work,

Play and have some fun.

She shouts at me sometimes,

She advices me all the time

She plays with me every day,

My Mother leads my way.

I love her a lot,

She loves me a lot

We have fun every day,

We play together all day.

Because of her I became a prefect,

She treats me just like a pet

I love her a lot,

She is the best mother in the world.

-Rozanne Neil

More by Sitara Pinto

People who are poor give more 

 though they have less. 

People who have lots

Want more more more …

People have lots, 

Count the number they give. 

While the poor just give give give and,

continue to live. 

We all have a life don’t forget , or 

count the value twice.

Just be humble, kind and diligent and most of all 

love others and give give give.

Sitara , Class 7 , OLSH

I wrote this poem based on mother Teresa quotes we tend to ask God for more without valuing what he has given us and thanking him . 

Never cry over the past By Alexio Jose Ajeesh

There once was a boy named Samuel. He loved to play cricket. So, he asked his father if he could go for coaching on weekends. His father agreed but under one condition, that he would practice every day and would do his best when he was practicing. He agreed with his father. Then, on Saturday he started going for coaching. His coach was very kind. He always helped Samuel if he had any doubt in a type of shot. Then one day the coach announced that they were going to have a cricket tournament. It was in district level. He had to play as the opening batsman.

When had played the first ball he got no runs.Unfortunately, he lost his wicket in the next ball. Everyone was very sad. He was very sad too but, he kept on crying about it the whole day. Then his father came to him and said, don’t cry about the past forget about it, this is a very important lesson, we must always learn to forget about the past and we should move on. So, he listened to his father, and he started practicing for the next day’s match. On the next day he was full of hope that he would at least get a half century. but he actually got a century, he got 100 runs, and his team had won the match. He was very happy that he forgot about the past and move on. 

Lost Faith by Aditi Miriam

 Once upon a time there lived a girl called Priya. She was a healthy little twelve-year-old. One day she got sick. At first her parents thought that it was a normal cold but slowly it got really bad. When the doctors saw this, they came with bad news to Priya’s parents and told them that Priya was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a very rare disease and that she would die. Her parents and siblings were in their worst states. Her parents took extreme care of her. Her mother loved God and prayed to him every single day. Priya’s condition got worse day by day and finally she had to stay in hospital for two whole months. Because of the medicines she took her other parts of the body had an impact on it.Her mother stayed with her every single day and her father did two jobs to take care of the money and her. She didn’t go to school for a whole year because of this. One day she started crying to her mother that she wanted to die and that she couldn’t handle the pain anymore and that time her mother lost faith in God. Her mother started crying that she wanted her to stay and have a healthy life. Priya felt bad for her mother and did not know what to say. One day Priya’s little sister Isabel called Priya to climb a tree. Priya thought it would be fun to do something for fun for once so she went and climbed the tree and suddenly the tree’s branch shook where Priya was sitting and it fell down from 30 feet tall and Isabel climbed down and started screaming to her parents about the accident in tears. Then immediately Priya’s parents took her to the hospital and she was put in ICU. The doctors said that she wouldn’t make it.But suddenly her heart started beating properly and everything started to become normal. That moment God spoke to Priya and told her that she had to stay and that exact moment her mother’s faith came back. After two days a scientific phenomenon happened Priya’s pulmonary fibrosis was cured because of God’s grace and from that day she lived happily ever after as a young active girl.

Greed by Aanchal Ana Lobo

 Greed Greed everywhere

Just to become a millionaire

From things of ours,

To things of theirs

We just don’t ever care

I want that 

I want this

I want everything that fits

Now we wanna own the world

Because we think we're still in 3rd

To know what i want 

And to take what i need

I just need to leave 

The habit of greed

-Aanchal Ana Lobo

Focus and Grit by Isabel Renjith

Author: Isabel Renjith

OLSH, Class 7

 I wasn't practicing maths very regularly at all. To be very honest, I never used to pick up a textbook and do sums unless I was nearing the exam. Since I usually get quite good marks in my math exam, I didnt worry much.I ended up leaving most of my portion to study in the last 2-3 days. Of course, this didn't work very well as I tried to cover the entire portion in a very less time. As a result I got low marks in the exam.

 I decided not to let this happen again. I did a few sums almost every day and enrolled in a math tuition too. I definitely put in a lot more hardwork than before. Before the exams I made it a point to wake up at 5:30 and focus on maths along with other subjects and not leave it for the last minute. I scored much better this time and have learnt my lesson.

(Based on real life incident)

Gold Coins of Allersets by Saira Mary Thomas

                      Author :: Saira Mary Thomas

                      Class 7, OLSH Parish

The Grand Duke of Allersets,

Was as rich as his title suggests.

He was rather round,

And his laugh shook the ground,

His pocket was full,

Of gold coins, fistfulls!

That shimmered and shone,

Like a well polished trombone.

Through a little outlet,

Fell the coins from the Duke’s pocket!

The first gold piece,

Was used to buy a chunk of cheese,

By a poor orphan boy,

Whose name was Leroy,

To savour and enjoy.

The second was picked up,

By a lad who wanted a pup.

With his discovery in hand,

He reached a moorland,

Where with his precious pound,

He bought a brown basset hound,

With the glittering gold coin he found.

Back in the town,

The next coin fell down.

And a little old lady called Saraf,

Who had desperate need of a scarf,

As her old one was soiled,

And perpetually spoiled,

While in the green fields she toiled.

So that gold coin was used,

To buy the old lady a scarf that she chose.

So her shoulders could be warm,

While she worked in the farm,

Five days a week from dawn.

The last gold coin was found,

By a miser who yelled obnoxiously loud,

“Oh mercy me!

Is that a gold coin I see?”

On it he pounced,

And back home he bounced,

With the precious gold coin he found.

These four pieces of gold,

Well, now their story

has at last been told.

~~~~~~

Closing Thought

You are Gold

How will you shine

Will you be a source of warmth ......(scarf for lady)

or for the needy a helpline ........(food for Leroy)

Will you love unconditionally ........(loving pup)

or just lost in yourself ........(Duke)

Will you hone your talent

or just keep it in the shelf ........(miser)

Jesus, The Teacher

 

Written by Jibrael Jos

As a teacher myself I used to look at the teaching style of Jesus to draw inspiration. Most of the content below is based on my reading of books and resources and I don’t claim any scholarship in the matter. Content was prepared while teaching Catechism in Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Harlur Road.

This year I was teaching students of class 7. The course plan was planned around Gospel according to Mark. Jesus is portrayed as man of Action and Authority by St Mark but it made me wonder how effective was Jesus as a Teacher. Once the 16 chapters were over, I did a session on Jesus’s style of teaching. This article is based on the same.

Jesus used an indirect form of communication. He asked lot of questions. He used metaphors, analogies, aphorisms and similes. At times he used shocking examples so that audience gets the message and does not forget. Jesus was a story teller and knew how to get the attention of his audience. He used parables which were stories with a deeper meaning which the audience had to think about and digest it with time. He made people “think” for a change.  

Examples Set 1

·         Parables (around 40 of them): Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan

·         Metaphors: Kingdom of God value is like a man who found a pearl

·         Similies:

"The Lord is my shepherd"

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

"I am the bread of life."

“I am the way and the truth and the light.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.”

"You are the salt of the earth."

·         Questions

"Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

·         Shocking Extreme Example:

And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away!

·         Figurative Labels: Peter Rock; Pharisees Brood of Vipers

·         Aphorisms

"Man shall not live on bread alone."

"No prophet is acceptable in his own country."

"Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."

"If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a pit."

"What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his life."

"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it?"

·         Riddles:

“For those who have more will be given

And those who have nothing,

Even what they have will be taken away”

Mark 4:25

Teaching style included use of pauses which made people think. At times he talks in riddles but he does explain in detail too. A passionate teacher who taught with intensity. Whenever he got a chance he would teach. While walking, in a boat, during a meal, to large crowds, one to one. Jesus connected with audience with things they would see in daily life like fishing, farming, family etc. He compared God with a Father, Vineyard Owner, Shepherd etc

Example Set 2

·         Explaining in Detail: Explaining Parable of Sower

·         Teaching in Boat: Luke 5:3

·         Teaching while Walking: with two disciples on the way to Emmaus

·         Discussing One to One: with Nicodemus (John 3:1–21)

Jesus crafted memorable lines because he realized not many were taking notes in his class. So he must have prepared these verses so that they remain embedded in their minds. He used repetitions to make the point sink in.

Example Set 3

·         Memorable Lines:

“Ask, and you will receive;

seek, and you will find;

knock, and the door will be opened to you”

Mathew 7:7

“Judge not, and you will not be judged;

condemn not, and you will not be condemned;

forgive, and you will be forgiven;

give, and it will be given to you.”

Luke 6:37-38.

·         Repetition : about his death and resurrection over and over again (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34),

Jesus led by example and definitely was a man who practice what he preached. He followed his preaching along with significant action. He never used PowerPoint presentation but he did use visual illustrations. He questioned people in authority on one side but still suggested that people pay taxes. He cleared all the business happening in the synagogue even at the cost of antagonizing the priest and religious. Jesus cared about the people around him and he dealt people with compassion and was not quick to judge but keen that people repent.

Example Set 4

·         Significant Action: Washing feet of disciples, Picking children up, riding a donkey

·         Visual Illustration: Widow dropping two coins, Washing feet of disciples

·         Compassion: Healing the sick

·         Not quick to judge: John 7:53

How was Jesus as a person, did he listen to his parents, did he lose his temper, did he get frustrated, did he cry, did he pray, did he listen, did he speak, create poetry and short stories, did he sing hymns …. well yes. But there is a lot we don’t know for instance did he dance, I wonder. Once I asked in class why did Jesus have to pray if he was God! I got a flurry of answers and one child in class answered that he is talking to his Father in heaven (what a simple yet wonderful answer).

Example Set 5

·         Righteous Anger: In the temple, Mark 11:15-19

·         Crying: Garden of Gethsemene, When Lazarus died

·         Listening to parents: Wedding at Cana

·         Praying: 19 occurrences in Gospel [5]: Garden of Gethsemene, On the cross, Before Raising Lazarus

·         Listening: Mark 5:34

·         Singing: After Last Supper, Mark 14:26

Authors Note: This is an article in progress and I am learning as years move on last edit in Jan 2020 my third year of teaching catechism.

References/Further Reading

1.      Bible: Gospels

2.      Jesus A very short introduction by Richard Backhaum

3.      New Testament

4.      New Jerome Bible Commentary, Raymond Brown, Jospeh Fitzmyer, Roland Murphy

5.      Haley’s Bible Handbook

6.      Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph Ratzinger

Gospel Visualisation

Maps the Gospel Matthew , Mark and Luke

Chapters are the columns and Lines are the verses which are connected across

Done using Excel and Tableau

One can see following patterns

1. Triple Tradition, Connection of MML

2. Double Tradition, Connection  of Matthew Luke

3. Most of verses in Mark are found in other Gospels

4. How the order of stories are very similar

5. A few cris-crosses are visible

Christmas Creatives

 Created by Students of OLSH Catechism Class 2020

Gospel of St Mark :: Notes

collated by Jibrael Jos,OLSH, Harlur Road

Overview

            Straight forward vigorous  way with emphasis on what Jesus did rather than on his words and teachings                                

            Jesus a man of action and authority                        

            Authority based on                            

·         Teachings                         

·         Power over demons                                 

·         Forgiveness of sins                                   

            Son of man who came to give his life to set people free from sin                             

As gospel progresses

·         Followers understand Jesus better

·         Opponents get more hostile

            Sections          Chapters                   

                               I.            Beginning of Gospel   1.1 to 1.13                  

                            II.            Public Ministry in Galilee       1.14 to 9                     

                         III.            Galilee to Jerusalem    10                   

                         IV.            Last week in and near Jerusalem        11 to 15                      

                            V.            Resurrection    16.1 to 16.8                

                         VI.            Appearance and Ascension     16.9 to 16.20              

                                               

            Parables         Mark  Matthew         Luke

o   The Growing Seed                              4:26–29                      

o   The Lamp under a Bushel                   4:21–25           5:14–15           8:16–18

o   New Wine into Old Wineskins           2:21–22           9:16–17           5:37–39

o   Parable of the strong man                   3:27–27           12:29–29         11:21–22

o   Parable of the Sower                           4:3–9               13:3–9             8:5–8

o   Parable of the Mustard Seed              4:30–32           13:31–32         13:18–19

o   Tenants in the Vineyard                      12:1–9             21:33–41         20:9–16

o   The Budding Fig Tree                         13:28–31         24:32–35         21:29–33

o   The Faithful Servant                           13:34–37         24:42–51         12:35–48

                                               

Why Mark may have been written first? (Before Luke and Matthew)                                      

1          All parables in Mark found in others but not vice versa                                

2          Found in Matthew but not in Mark                           

v  Sermon on the Mount                        

v  Lords Prayer                          

v  Establishment of Church with Peter                          

v  Judas Suicide                         

3          Found in Luke but not in Mark                                 

v  Portrayal of Mary                               

v  Good Samaritan Parable                                

v  Prodigal Son Parable                          

                                               

            Opening lines of each Gospel                                  

            Matthew: This is the list of ancestors of Jesus Christ                                   

            Mark: This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God                          

            Luke: Dear Theophilus                                  

            Many people have done their best to write a report of things ...                               

            John:: Before the world was created the word already existed                               

                                               

             St Mark  literary styles:                              

            Markan Sandwich*                         

            Sandwich #1                          

            a. Cursing of the Fig Tree 11:12-14                           

            b. Cleansing of the Temple 11:15-19                         

            c. Cursing of the Fig Tree 11:20-25                           

                                               

            Sandwich #2                          

            a. Jairus’ Daughter 5:21-24a                          

            b. Issue of Blood 5:22-30                              

            c. Jairus’ Daughter 5:35-43                            

                                               

            Series of Stories to build up*                                   

                7 1-30                                 

                                               

            Repetition*                            

                Blind Healing 8.22, 10.46                          

                Feeding 5000,4000 6.31,8.1                                  

                3 passion prediction 8.31,9.31,10.33                                 

                                               

            What is the connection of these places to Gospel?                        

o   Sea of Galilee  Emmaus          Bethsaida       

o   Bethany           Jericho River Jordan   

o   Bethlehem       Golgotha         Wilderness     

o   Nazareth          Gethsemane    Judea  

o   Capernaum      Mount of Olives          Galilee

o   Jerusalem         Cana               

                                               

            Meaning of Miracles                        

            Jesus performs many different types of miracle to demonstrate the nature of Jesus.

            to show that he has God’s power over nature and physical and mental illness.        

            He also shows that it is necessary to have faith in order for a miracle to happen                             

            Nature Miracles        

§  Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4:35–41)                       

§  Jesus feeds five thousand (Mark 6:30–44)                

§  Jesus walks on water (Mark 6:45–52)            

§  Jesus feeds four thousand (Mark 8:1–9)                    

            Miracles of healing – mental illness                        

§  A man with an evil spirit (Mark 1:21–28)                  

§  A man with evil spirits (The Gerasene Demoniac) (Mark 5:1–20)    

§  The Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter (Mark 7:24–30)                 

§  The boy with the evil spirit (Mark 9:14–29)              

            Miracles of healing – physical illness                                  

§  Jesus heals a paralysed man (Mark 2:1–12)               

§  The man with the paralysed hand (Mark 3:1–6)                    

§  Jesus heals the haemorrhagic (Mark 5:25–34)           

§  Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21–42)                    

§  Jesus heals a deaf mute (Mark 7:31–37)                    

§  The blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22–25)       

      

Chapter 1

Preaching of John the Baptist

Baptism

Temptation

Jesus calls 4 fisherman

Chapter 2

Heals a paralysed man

Jesus calls a Levi

Chapter 3

Jesus 12 apostles

Chapter 4

Parable of the Sower

Why Jesus used Parables

Using your light

Parable of Growing Seed

Parable of Mustard Seed

Wind and Waves obey Jesus

Chapter 6

Feeding 5000

Walking on the Water

Miraculous Healing

Chapter 8

Feeding 4000

Healing Blind man(Bethsaida)

Take up your cross

Chapter 9

Transfiguration

Chapter 10

Blessing Children

Prediction about his death

Blind Man (Bartimaeus)healed

Chapter 11

Entry into Jerusalem

Fig Tree Cursed

Cleansing the Temple

Chapter 12

Parable of Vineyard Owner

Chapter 14

Plot against Jesus

Jesus anointed in Bethany

Judas agrees to betray

Last Supper

Jesus predicts Peter's denial

Praying in Gethsemane

Arrest

Council

Peter denies

Chapter 15

Pilate

Sentenced to death

Crucification

Death

Burial

Chapter 16

Resurrection

Appears to Mary Magdalene

Appears to two disciples

Appears to Eleven

Jesus Taken up to heaven