by Mary Clifford Morrell

 

I really love Gospel music. It helps my faith come alive. One of my favorite Gospel hymns is “Take the Lord with You Everywhere You Go.” The refrain says:

You oughta take the Lord with you, children, everywhere you go.
You oughta take the Lord with you, children, everywhere you go.
You oughta take the Lord with you, everywhere you go,
In the streets, in the crowds, in your home, all alone, highways, byways, well, everywhere you go.

As we enter into a New Year, it’s the perfect time to remind students that with Jesus in their hearts, they take him wherever they go. Young students may not fully grasp the idea of Jesus in their hearts, as they take things more literally. For them, it’s important that they get to know Jesus, who he was, why he is so important to us as Catholics, and, for all students, the many ways in which we can take Jesus into the world with us.

 

As St. Theresa of Avila wrote, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.”

Familiarize students with the love of Jesus through stories, music, and activities that bring love and joy to others. Engage them in conversations about how Jesus is connected to everything they experience in church and in prayer. Read more Gospel stories with the children this year and give children the opportunity to ask questions about what they heard or read. Allow them to wonder.

When we give students an experience of Jesus, the lessons about Jesus take on greater meaning. Take them to Mass, to Adoration, let them sit in silence and listen, observe the stained-glass windows of the church, the altar, the holy water, and the statues. Encourage them to draw not only what they saw, but what they felt.

God is always in relationship with our children. We just need to give them opportunities to recognize and express that relationship.

January 3 is also the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. We honor the name of Jesus because of the many blessings we have received through his birth. Consider reading Matthew 1:21 to the children, which is the Scripture verse in which the angel tells Joseph that he and Mary should name the child Jesus. Let children talk about their own names. Were they named after someone in their family, or a saint perhaps, or does their name means something special?

Point out that Jesus’ name means savior, and he was born to save us from the many wrong choices we might make that would separate us from God – who loves us dearly as his children and wants to always be in a relationship with us.

As a classroom resolution this year, encourage children to use the name of Jesus:

With respect – When God created the 10 Commandments God wrote, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.” That means to use God’s name only with respect; to never use God’s name in anger or to disrespect someone else. That commandment applies to Jesus’ name, as well, since Jesus is God.

Students will also learn that respect, including respect for someone’s name, should be part of all meaningful relationships.

To pray – The name of Jesus has been whispered and recited in prayer since ancient times. Give students the opportunity to pray with Jesus’ name in class and encourage them to recite very brief Jesus prayers in their minds whenever they feel the need for support: Jesus, help me. Jesus, give me courage. Jesus, take away my fear. Jesus, help me do the right thing. Jesus, forgive me. Children may want to create their own prayer to Jesus that they can pray whenever they want to.

As a reminder God loves them – The most important lesson of Jesus is that God loved us enough to become incarnate in a tiny baby, to grow up, teach, heal, suffer, die and be resurrected so we would learn what God was really like, love God and serve God, because God loved us first.

One more Gospel song for the road – “Take Jesus With You.” The refrain reminds me of why I pray Jesus’ name so often; to lead me, guide me, protect me and direct me:

Take Jesus with you,
Everywhere you go.
You oughta take Jesus with you,
Everywhere you go.
He will lead you,
Guide you,
Protect and direct you,
He will keep you from doing things wrong.

 

About the Author
Mary Clifford Morrell, mother of six and grandmother to ten, is a Catholic journalist, editor, and author who has served the Dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey; Burlington, Vermont, and RENEW International in the areas of religious education and communication.