Module 2 is oriented towards students learning to trust God who is the Light that dispels the darkness and the Truth that sets man free.
God is the Light, and light dispels the darkness; God searches for sinful man; the relationship of truth to living in freedom; saying ‘yes’ to Jesus; Jesus is the light of the world; Examen; the virtues of humility and patience; homily assignment.
“God is light and in him is no darkness” (1 John 1:5)
Module 2 invites students to see that the loving God, being Light, first seeks ‘man’ before ever ‘man’ seeks God. Starting with the question put by God to sinful Adam in the Garden, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9), the teacher will assist students to understand that this is a key question each person is called to continually answer throughout their life.
Emphasising the vital place for both reason and faith as faculties to recognise God as the Divine Artist, with special emphasis on human persons as “God’s works of art” (Eph. 2:10) created in the image of God (Imago Dei) and graced to be in the “likeness” of Christ, the teacher will lead the student-seeker in contemplation and worship of the mystery of the beauty of God, a beauty that awakens hunger in the soul.
Module 2 will guide the student in a discovery of how key people and events in salvation history illuminate that God is the Light that dispels the darkness and the Liberator who leads man into freedom and life. This will be done with particular emphasis on: 1) the story of God’s mysterious election of Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3); 2) the Annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38), whose ‘yes’ to the angel brings Jesus (whose name means ‘God saves’) into the world; and 3) the healing of the blind man by Jesus, who is “The light of the world” (John 9:5).
Consideration will be given to the Christian interpretation of suffering and the opportunities inherent for an active participation in the growth of virtue, experienced as the liberating power of suffering, for creativity, and the discovery of who we are and who we are to become.
Students are equipped to discern God’s searching presence in their lives and invited to make their own personal ‘yes’ to God, using the daily Examen as a practical tool. Drawing from the examples of the Saints, teachers will encourage students in their development of the virtues of humility and patience, with particular emphasis on the importance of regular repentance and acts of trust as antidotes to spiritual blindness.
Homily Assignment, ‘The Search’, with introductory ‘hook’ story, content explanation of the search God makes for us (choosing between Adam, Moses, Mary or the man born blind), and exhortation response.
Highlight to the students that these are the four texts upon which they will choose to base their homily assignment:
Point out that they will need to:
In short, homily to include Hook, Content, and Call to Response, in 450 words, written and audio submission.
Session 1: Key Syllabus Content for Module 2 – A. “Where is Your Heart?” – Faith & Reason: The Search for Truth
The aim of the session is to enable the teacher to develop your understanding of the GNFL Key Syllabus Content for Module 2, considering it for yourself and to begin your preparation to teach it.
Step #1 – Input [00:00:00 - 00:29:30]
In Step #1 Steve provides an explanation of the Key Syllabus Content (Module 2) - A. “Where is Your Heart?” – Faith & Reason: The Search for Truth.
Following the presentation by Steve (Step#1), Martin outlines and leads the process for:
1. Reading (Step #2) [00:29:35 - 00:34:00],
2. Personal reflection (Step #3) [00:34:00 - 00:37:44],
3. Considerations for teaching (Step #4) [00:37:44 - 00:41:00],
4. Sharing your insights into ‘for your teaching’ (Step #5) [00:41:00 - 01:01:29], and
5. Conclusion of the session (Step #6) [01:01:31 - 01:10:03] that includes a video by Bishop Robert Barron - ‘Faith & Reason’.
Annunciation (Fra Angelico, San Marco). www.fraangelico.net
https://www.fraangelico.net/annunciation/
Barron, R. (2021). And now I see-- : a theology of transformation. Word On Fire Academic.
Faulkner, W., & Zuckerman, P. (2016). The Bear. Applewood Books.
Pope Benedict XVI. Apostolic Journey to München, Altötting and Regensburg: Meeting with the representatives of science in the Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg (September 12, 2006) | www.vatican.va.
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg.html
Ratzinger, J. (2004). Introduction to Christianity. Communio Books (Ignatius Press).
Spitzer, R. J. (2015). Finding true happiness : satisfying our restless hearts. Ignatius Press.
Spitzer, R. J. (2015). The Soul’s upward yearning : clues to our transcendent nature from the experience and reason. Ignatius Press.
Spitzer, R. J. (2016). God so loved the world : clues to our transcendent destiny from the revelation of Jesus. Ignatius Press.
Spitzer, R. J. (2017). The light shines on in the darkness : transforming suffering through faith. Ignatius Press.
The Jesuit Institute - Examen. (2017). Jesuitinstitute.org
http://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Examen.htm
