St. Abraam
OBJECTIVE
This age group enjoys helping and likes to be noticed for their helpfulness We would like to encourage this inherent nature in fifth graders and show them how they are like the great saints that are known for giving. These saints took the Lord's commandment to help the poor as a purpose for their Christian lives. Every week of this module will focus on how the holy saints showed their love for Christ by loving and caring for the poor: week 1 -- St. Abraam, week 2 -- Mother Teresa, week 3 -- St.Basil, week 4 -- St. Nicholas. Week 5 is the capstone week to review and apply the concept. Please read through all the lessons in this module in preparation for this lesson.
INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER
Many people think that the more they keep for themselves, the happier they will be. However for Christians, the more we give away, the happier we are.
- "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Play/sing song together song by Steve Green
HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes
Read together Matthew 25:34-40
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"
LIFE OF THE SAINT - 10 Minutes
Read together the life story and events of St. Abraam (reposed June 9, 1914). If there is time, help the children navigate the Synaxarion pages on their own.
Due to the length of his life story, we will skip his early life and pick up after his ordination as bishop of El Fayoum, He prayed often and fervently and devoted his time to studying God's word. He also had a deep love for the poor. He always cared for them and gave them all that he had, even his clothes.
Anba Abraam once received furniture for the episcopate, the official headquarters for the bishop. He refused to use it, and asked the servant to put it in storage. Soon after, a woman came to him complaining that her daughter's engagement was stalling because they didn't have enough money to buy furniture for her daughter and her future husband. Anba Abraam told the servant to show her the new furniture, and let her take what she needed. Some people complained to Pope Kyrillos V that Anba Abraam was giving away the furniture. Afterwards, there was a collection to build a new house of the episcopate. Anba Abraam also gave that money to the poor and needy, and more people complained. He also allowed the episcopate to be used as a housing home for the poor, which angered even more people.
Due to all the complaints, the Pope summoned him wanting to hear from him an explanation for the complaints His Holiness received about him. St. Abraam went without delay even though he was an old man with poor eyesight. Upon his arrival, St. Abraam was rushed in to see the Pope in his suite. It was a summer afternoon, and a ray of sun shone through a hole in the shade of the window, which Anba Abraam mistook for a clothing line that people would hang robes on (it was a common custom to install a rod or thin rope to hang clothes on). Anba Abraam threw his coat (Farageia) on it and miraculously it draped over the beam of sunlight and hung from it, as if the beam of light was a rod or a thin strand of rope. The Pope saw how the Lord works wonders to not embarrass this saint on earth. Now aware of the innocence of the saintly bishop, the Pope changed the purpose of the call and instead inquired about his health and gave him 15,000 Egyptian Pounds to build a new house for the episcopate. When the people came back to see the Pope, he scolded them for their lack of faith, concluding: "How can I argue with a man of God who was able to hang his coat on a ray of sunshine" The new house of the episcopate was not built in Anba Abraam's life. The money was used to help the poor.
DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes
- How did St. Abraam follow the commandments of Our Lord Jesus? Have children write answers on the board or in notebooks
- What can we do to follow our Lord Jesus' commandments? Have students write answers on board or on notebooks
ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes
Be prepared with a service project that the class can do together, or a collection jar for the month for a specific charity and goal. Help the children see the progress from week to week.
Sacrifice Jar: Place an empty jar next to a bowl of dried beans. For every sacrifice, prayer, act of kindness or charity performed, a bean goes into the jar. After 4 weeks, the beans will be replaced with jelly beans and MMs, reminding us that the rewards of Heaven will be sweet Send children home with a chart so that they can keep track of the good and charitable deeds they've done through the week. Next week, add the beans to the jar.
PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK
Your children love to give and we are encouraging their giving nature in this unit as we delve into the lives of some saints known for their love for the poor. Today we spoke about St. Abraam. We've challenged your children to give to charity so we can help the poor together like St. Abraam.