This lesson plan on the authority of Jesus will help youth consider what it means to be taught by God. And how does that impact our view of the Eucharist?
A printable copy of this lesson plan is available at the bottom of this article.
Game for Taught By God Lesson Plan
Start with a game of Simon Says - The Balloon Edition. Basically, this involves playing Simon Says with a balloon on your back.
See Simon Says - The Balloon Edition for the complete instructions and some notes.
Follow up with a few questions:
- How good are you at following instructions?
- Were some of the instructions difficult to follow?
Scripture about being taught by God
Following directions isn't always easy, even when we want to. And sometimes, we don't want to follow instructions, especially if we don't recognize the authority of the person giving them.
Let's read the gospel of the day:
John 6:41-51 (The people question the authority of Jesus) - the Gospel Reading for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven, " and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
John 6:41-51
Discussion for Lesson Plan on Authority
All through the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites commandments. These were meant to bring them closer to God and establish Israel as his people.So the idea of being taught by God would have been familiar to the people Jesus was speaking to. In fact, the passage Jesus is referring to is probably from Isaiah:
All your children shall be taught by the Lord; great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13
But history showed that God's people ignored him over and over again. When Jesus began teaching, his authority was questioned. And then when he started talking about being the Bread of Life and giving himself as food, many people completely rejected him.
They thought they knew him. How dare he claim to be the Messiah! Many could not accept the things he said and walked away.
- Have you ever found it difficult to accept someone else's authority?
- How does the authority of Jesus relate to the Eucharist?
As Catholics, we take Jesus at his word when he says that the Eucharist is his body and blood. St. Cyril expressed it very well:
Since Christ Himself has said, “This is My Body” who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
When we partake of the Eucharist, we are completely submitting to the authority of Jesus Christ. If he says it is his body and blood, then it is.
- Have you ever thought of how your belief in the authority of Jesus impacts how you receive the Eucharist?
- Can you see partaking in the Eucharist is not only an act of faith, but also an act of submitting to the authority of Jesus?
Challenge for being taught by God
When you receive the Eucharist this week, spend some time praying about how you will accept the authority of Jesus. Ask God to show you any parts of your life where you are trusting in yourself instead of submitting to his wisdom. Make a commitment to really focus on one of those things and to trust that his laws are better than your own judgement. If appropriate, take action to follow through on that commitment.
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