Religion - Continuing to share the questions the students and I recite at the beginning of religion class, the second question is, "How do we follow Jesus?" The students and I answer, as follows: "Walk as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8).  Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16)."  During our prayer together after the questions, I have also added this week a brief daily reflection and prayer on the "virtue of the week" that is highlighted in the students' planners for that week.  This week, we reflected on the virtue of generosity, which is giving of oneself in a willing and cheerful manner for the good of others.  We reflected on being generous with our belongings, our time, and our thoughts about others.  This focus on a virtue each week fits really well with our religion curriculum for the year, which focuses on the moral life.  Living the Christian moral life is about more than just not doing things that are against the Commandments; it is about living fully Jesus' life by living the virtues that He lived.  

Students also read the account of creation in the Book of Genesis.  We talked first about how to treat the Bible with reverence, and I was really pleased with the gentle care and respect the students showed toward the Bibles.  We discussed how what God did in creation shows that He created out of His power, knowledge, wisdom, and free will.  We also discussed how plants, animals, and humans are similar and different.  Finally, students were able to learn some about the life of Fulton Sheen, in honor of his beatification on Thursday, and watched a few short clips of videos with him.