Objectives: Students will know every human life is sacred because God created us in His image and likeness. Students will explore the meaning of social justice and how to promote it.

Talking points:

Life is sacred because God created us in his image and likeness. God made every single one of us. This makes us incredibly special! Each one of us is unique and irreplaceable, created with a specific purpose and mission that no one else can fulfill.

It doesn’t matter who we are, who our friends are, what we own, or what we look like. What matters is that we are God’s creation. This means that we should treat others with great respect and fairness, because God made them, too.

“Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” 

― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Use the PowerPoint presentation, “The Dignity of Life,” to teach key points.

Now, let’s explore several passages from Scripture to learn what God teaches us about social justice. He tells us how to view and treat the elderly, the marginalized, and those who are “different than us.” If possible, arrange in advance for 6 confident readers to have their Bibles bookmarked and ready to read these passages:

• Psalm 103:6-18 (He has compassion on us because He knows we are human)

• Proverbs 22:22-23 (do not crush or exploit the poor)

• Matthew 11: 2-6 (Jesus heals the sick, and proclaims the Good News to the poor)

• James 1:17-27 (take care of orphans and widows)

• Romans 12: 9-18 (share and live in harmony with each other) *Spend more time on this one if possible.

• Luke 6: 20-26 (blessed are the poor, hungry, weeping and hated)

Discuss with children The Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

So, we see that we have a responsibility towards ourselves and others.

What responsibilities do you have at home? (ex. Make their own lunch, take out the trash, help with a younger sibling, etc.)

What ways are you already helping the elderly? (Help grandma carry a bag, help grandpa by bringing his reading glasses, etc.)

To whom else in our community, and in our lives, do we have responsibilities? (Teachers, classmates, neighbors, etc.)

Think and reflect quietly on these different scenarios.

What would you do if you saw someone hurting an older person?

What would you do if you saw someone laughing at a disabled person?

If you just realized that you did something wrong, you messed up, what would you say to yourself? (Make the point that just as they wouldn’t yell and degrade another person, they should not demean themselves by calling themselves names such as stupid. They need to be patient with themselves, also. They should apologize and make amends. Confess it when they go to their next Reconciliation time.)

Conclusion:

God loves us all because He created us in His image. We have a responsibility to all other humans to treat them with dignity and respect because they are ______________ (let them complete the sentence with, made in the image of God, or in God’s image.)