The Atrium: Parable of the Leaven

The children have been pondering the mystery of the Kingdom of God through the Kingdom Parables. Recently, they revisited the Parable of the Mustard Seed (which is definitely a favorite). The children quickly remembered how small the mustard seed is and how large it became as a tree. This past week received a presentation on the Parable of the Leaven.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.  --Matthew 13:33

One pan has just flour and water and the other has flour, yeast and water.

While we were waiting for the yeast to rise, the children went back to work both in the classroom and in small groups to the atrium.

Receiving the presentation on the Adoration of the Magi.

Working with the Good Shepherd materials.

Working with the Tracing Packets.

Working with the Last Supper materials.

After reading again from the scripture booklet, the children were SO excited to see what had happened!

The one with the yeast has changed!

I wonder how the Kingdom of God could be like the yeast in the flour. The yeast cannot be taken out of the flour. And yet, the yeast has transformed the flour and water.

We offered the children a few moments of silence and a few of the children asked to share a prayer. "The length of the prayer time is determined by the children and often consists in long periods of silence, which are, themselves, authentic prayer. "* They were so thoughtful. Some prayers were audible, some a whisper and some were silent. "All who work with children, as catechists or as parents, have experienced the joy and the peace of children of all ages after a time of prayer."*


*From "Listening to God with Children" by Gianna Gobbi, one of the co-founders of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.