Module 8: Original Sin, Morality, and Grace

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Module 8: Original Sin, Morality, and Grace

Check-in (10 minutes)

This check-in segment will go deeper by inviting the young people to express their thoughts and feelings about concepts that will be covered in the session.

1. Welcome the young people and conduct a 2–3 minute check-in on how things are going in their lives.

Ask if anyone would like to share their responses to one of the following questions:

• What has been a highlight in the past week?

• What has been the strongest feeling you’ve felt?

• What piece of news would you like to share?

• What has been on your mind most this past week?

2. Explain that you will now present a scenario and give them some possible responses. They will need to choose which response most closely reflects the way they might act.

3. Present the following scenario to the young people:

 Imagine you are watching a movie, the news, or an advertisement in which a situation of hurt or suffering is shown. What is your most typical response?

4. Read the following possible responses aloud, and ask the young people to select the response that most represents how they might react to the scenario.

• I would raise awareness about the situation of hurt or suffering to make sure other people knew about it.

• I would be emotionally moved by the situation of hurt or suffering. I would likely feel the pain of the situation, and I might cry or get angry.

• I would start to think of ways the hurt or suffering could be stopped or prevented.

• I would be ready to act to relieve the hurt or suffering.

5. Discuss how each of these responses is helpful and needed. Explain that each response represents an act of compassion. Share that compassion is an important virtue and one that Jesus demonstrated throughout his earthly life.

6. Explain that compassion is like a muscle that can be strengthened or weakened. Tell the group that practicing this virtue can help us to grow in goodness and holiness, and to further develop our conscience.

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Discussion (20 minutes)

1. Refresh the memories of the young people by reviewing the three main concepts of faith from the module:

missing the mark, free will, and grace. Ask the group if anything in the module surprised them, made an impression, was a challenge, or surfaced a question they have. Welcome their thoughts and questions.

2. Ask the young people what the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden tells us about Original Sin.

(Humans have the tendency to intentionally make wrong or hurtful choices. These choices are often rooted in benefiting one’s own desires.)

3. Explain that because Adam and Eve did not follow God’s guidance to keep all things in harmony, their pride, selfishness, and intentional and wrongful action caused separation from God, each other, and all creation.

4. Ask the group to share why they think sin has consequences. Encourage them to reflect on and give examples of how sin might affect others.

5. Invite the group to freely respond “true” or “false” to the following statements as you read them aloud:

• Sin, like that shown in the story of Adam and Eve, causes separation from God, one another, and all creation. (True)

• It is Moses through the Ten Commandments who repaired the separation caused by sin once and for all. (False)

• Nothing separates us from the love, mercy, and grace of God. (True)

• Because Jesus died for our sins and removed the separation sin causes from God, one another, and all creation, we don’t have to worry about whether we sin or not anymore. (False)

• Each of us has a responsibility to work to keep our will in alignment with God’s will as best we can. (True)

• A person who sins is no longer a good person. (False)

• When we sin, we are intentionally causing separation between us and God, one another, and all creation. (True)

• The ability to choose our own, willful actions is called temptation. (False)

6. Invite the group to name the Sacrament of Healing that allows sin to be absolved and relationships to be repaired (the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation). Explain that the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation allows for healing through God’s grace, and returns harmony, peace, and love.

7. Ask the group if they remember what we sometimes call the “inner voice” that guides our choices (conscience). Invite volunteers to share any experiences they might have of listening to or ignoring their conscience. Remind them that one’s conscience is like the muscle of compassion or any of the other virtues—it needs to be practiced and developed.

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Learning Activity (20 minutes)

In this activity, the young people work together to discuss and solve a moral dilemma that is appropriate to their age to further discuss the ripple effects of sin and goodness, as well as the role of conscience.

1. Inform the group that you will read them a moral dilemma and then will have some questions for discussion.

 Eden was a great town. Everyone was neighborly and caring. The mayor’s daughter, Emma, and her best friend, Jill, had been friends since early childhood. Emma was sociable and popular and included Jill in her many social outings and groups.

 One day, Jill arrived late to school because of a dentist appointment. As she entered the classroom, she noticed Emma giving her a cold stare. Not understanding why, Jill turned to talk with another friend, Amanda, to see what was up. As Jill turned toward Amanda, Amanda pulled away.

 As the day went on, a few more girls seemed to begin to ignore Jill. When she got home that afternoon, she talked with her mother about it. Her mother encouraged her to give it another day, thinking that Jill might have been overly sensitive.

 The next morning, Jill waited at the end of her driveway to walk to school with Emma, but Emma never arrived. Not waiting any longer, Jill went off to school. Upon arriving, a large group of girls was huddled together. Whispers and giggles could be heard as Jill walked by. She had no idea what had happened to cause all of this, but she was now feeling like she must have done something very wrong for more girls to turn away from her. Recess and lunch were horrible experiences as she was left to be alone. No one would talk or sit with her, and the snickers were becoming more frequent.

 Between one of her afternoon classes, Jill headed to the bathroom, ready to cry because she was so upset. As she reached for a tissue, one of the girls who hung out with Emma came into the bathroom and demanded Jill’s gym shoes. Stunned, Jill asked her why. The girl said that Emma gave her an ultimatum. Either she got Jill’s gym shoes, or Emma would no longer include her in the group. Feeling completely confused and deflated, Jill gave up the shoes.

 Jill’s next class was gym. She joined the class late with tear-stained cheeks. She was feeling

embarrassed as she didn’t have any shoes and was just in her socks. She knew she was about to be in big trouble. The other girls had anticipated this moment—as it had been deliberately planned—and they were quietly giggling. The commotion caused the gym teacher to look up, noticing Jill’s entrance.

The teacher questioned Jill about her lateness and about not having gym shoes. Jill was humiliated.

2. Raise the following questions to the group for discussion:

• How might Jill handle this situation? If she tells the teacher the truth, she may have to deal with some retaliation from getting Emma and the girls in trouble. If she remains quiet, she will get into trouble with the teacher for not telling the truth and for being without her gym shoes, but may have to deal with even more bullying and social isolation as the week goes on. What should Jill do and why?

• Was there an example of sin in this story? If so, did it have a ripple effect? Did it cause others to sin?

Are there situations where people can cause other people to sin? Can you think of an example?

• If you were the person told to get Jill’s gym shoes, how might you have handled the situation? What role might your conscience have played?

• Is there an example of temptation in this story?

• What would be a good way to practice virtue in this situation?

• How might the girls offer and seek out forgiveness and reconciliation with one another? How might that repair the situation?

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3. Access the following video on your computer: https://youtu.be/bL9KEaike8U. Share your screen with sound so that everyone can view and hear the video together. The clip is less than 5 minutes long.

It is subtitled, so be sure to inform the young people to pay close attention.

4. After viewing the video together, discuss the following questions:

• Why do you think the restaurant owner forgave the boy for stealing and didn’t call the police?

• What do you think the man’s conscience was telling him?

• What kind of compassion did the man have for the boy?

• How do you think you may have reacted in the situation?

5. Point out that sin always has consequences. Explain that those consequences affect one’s relationship with God, with others, and with all creation, because all that God created was designed to be in harmony.

6. Tell the group that just as sin has its effect, so does goodness. Share that as the video shows, goodness has a ripple effect and can influence other people and our environments beyond our knowing.

7. Explain that we don’t always get to see the fruits of our labor, but it’s those fruits that bring the world back to harmony. Emphasize that while we are capable of sin, we are also capable of goodness and bringing forth the Kingdom of God.

Prayer (10 minutes)

1. Pray together using the prayer service on pages 5–6.

2. Choose a reader for the Scripture passage, or plan to read it to the group.

3. After the prayer, end your time together with any announcements, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the next session.

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A Prayer for Healing

Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God. (Pause.)

Today, we have talked about sin, morality, and the role of conscience. We have also come to see how both sin and goodness have ripple effects in our lives and relationships. God’s gift of free will empowers us to make good decisions aligned with God’s will. When we do this, we re-create the harmony God initiated and desires for all creation.

Let us listen now to the words of Jesus and open our hearts and minds to the Word of God.

Reader: Matthew 5:21–26

Leader: I invite you to share what you heard in the Scripture passage that connects to everything we have talked about in the session. What is the message of this Scripture? In what ways can we

strengthen our conscience and practice virtue?

Leader: Now let us take a few quiet moments to think of people we know who are hurting and in need of healing, and to hold their names in our hearts. (Pause for a brief moment of reflection. Then explain that you will read some intentions and that they should respond with “Lord, hear our prayer.”)

Lord, hear our prayers that rise up to you like burning incense. (Lord, hear our prayer.) Soften our hearts to respond to hurt and suffering. (Lord, hear our prayer.)

Heal us, Lord, and make us whole again in you. (Lord, hear our prayer.)

Leader: (Inform the group that during this final prayer, there will be three times that you will invite them to slowly breathe in and to breathe out as you read each prayer.)

Let us pray.

O God, we place our whole selves in your presence to be transformed by your love. We ask you to take our lives—all that keeps us distracted and disconnected from you and all creation, all the goodness that is beginning to take root and grow within us, all the fear and worry, the anxiety, the joy, anticipation, and courage. Heal us, O Breath of Life. Make us whole again in you.

Breathe in the Breath of Life. Let it fill you with peace. Feel the gentle presence of God.

Breathe out all that has kept you from feeling God’s peace and healing presence. Feel God’s restorative grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, we enjoy your closeness and friendship. By your life and teachings, may we find the courage to live like you, offering love and forgiveness to others, especially when it’s hard.

Strengthen us, O Breath of Life. Make us whole again in you.

Breathe in the Breath of Life. Let it fill you with the compassion and the mercy of Christ. Feel the trusting presence of God.

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Breathe out, offering your forgiveness, compassion, and mercy for all those in need of this healing. Feel God’s restorative grace.

Holy Spirit, creative and empowering energy of love, give us new life through the healing of our bodies, minds, and hearts. Fill us with your gifts to be agents of healing in our relationships and in our world. May our choices, decisions, and actions inspire others to love like you. Renew us, O Breath of Life. Make us whole again in you.

Breathe in the Breath of Life. Let it fill you with the renewing energy of the Holy Spirit. Feel the life-giving presence of God.

Breathe out your commitment to renewing the Earth with the love of God. Feel God’s restorative grace.

Breathe in the breath of God.

Breathe out, giving your breath to God.

Breathe in the breath of God.

Breathe out, offering your breath to the world.

We make our prayer today in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.