7th Grade Religion

Our 7th grade study began with learning the value of being human.  Different from all other forms of creation, we have the spiritual powers of intellect and free will that make us in the image of God.  These powers enable us to know truth, to make judgements and to choose truth and goodness. 

We have learned that God is Trinity:Three persons in one God.  God is a mystery that can never be fully understood.  We will never be equal to God.  In heaven, our experience of God will always delight and surprise us.  We will experience a never ending mystery that continually unfolds and enwraps us in the ongoing dynamic experience of love and joy.

God  is evident to us in the marvels of creation and in the stories of salvation in the Old Testament, but the best revelation of God is Jesus.  It is in Jesus that we learn that our God is a God of love, mercy, forgiveness, and evermore unending love.

We learned terms:  Christ (Greek) / Messiah (Hebrew) mean "the anointed one";   Abba - a Hebrew word that means Dad/Daddy.  Jesus used this term to show us God's closeness to us.  Incarnation - God came to share in our humanity so we could share in his divinity. Jesus - the name means God saves.  Paschal Mystery - Jesus, as the new lamb, Lamb of God, suffered, died, rose, and ascended.  As Catholics, this is what we remember and give thanks for everytime we go to Mass/celebrate Eucharist.  Eucharist means Thanksgiving. 

We learned the Christian symbol of fish (Greek: ichthys)  the Greek spelling for fish/ichthys used each letter to be the beginning letters in the phrase: Jesus Christ God's Son Savior.

Our Chapter 2 study focused on building a friendship with Jesus.  We learned about the practice of Aspirations - short little breath prayers that keep us in friendship with Jesus.  It is our intent to revisit this practice often through the year and develop a habit of continual awareness of the close friendship of Jesus in my every-moment life.  Once we acquire the habit, it is like favorite background music: wherever I am, whatever I am doing or saying, there is that gentle awareness that Jesus is present as my friend.