How can I be like Jesus?

You may wish to tell your students this story to display how the resurrected Christ can bring transformation in our daily lives. I used this story at a First Communion retreat to illustrate how we are challenged to be the Jesus we receive in Holy Communion.

Use the interactive questions or adapt them to meet the needs of your students.

Story – “The Day Philip Joined the Group”

He was 8 – in a Catechism school class of seven year-olds. How old are you? What are seven year olds like? If a new student came into your grade how would you treat him or her? What if the person didn’t quite look like you, what would you say?

Philip was different from the other kids. He was older, but he suffered from Down’s syndrome. His face looked different. He spoke slowly. He wasn’t as bright as the younger children. The group did not welcome him into the group.

One Sunday after Easter when it was warm the teacher gave each child in her class a plastic Easter egg and told the children to go outside and find some symbol of new life to put in the egg. What would you look for if your teacher gave you this task?

After the children came back they took turns opening their egg and showing what they found as a symbol of new life. One had a flower.

All the children “oohed” and “aahed” at the symbol of new life.

Another child had a butterfly. “Beautiful,” said some of the children.

Another egg was opened. In it was a rock. “A rock. That’s stupid. It’s not alive,”

Said some of the kids.

A boy spoke up. “That’s mine. I knew everyone would find flowers, leaves, and butterflies. I wanted mine to be different.” Everyone laughed.

The teacher opened the last one. The egg was empty.

“That’s not fair,” someone said. “That’s dumb,” said another.

The teacher felt a tug on her sweater. It was Philip. “That’s mine,” he said. I did do it. It’s empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty.” What did he mean?

The class fell silent. From that day on Philip became part of the group. They never thought of him as different again.

Now, Philip’s family knew that he would not live long. That summer, Philip was overcome by an infection and he died.

On the day of his funeral nine 7 year old boys and girls had to deal with the death of their friend They marched up to the altar to place a gift on his casket. It wasn’t flowers. What do you think they left on his casket?

The boys and girls and teacher left their gift of love – an empty egg.

Isn’t that an amazing story? Remember what we said. We become what we eat. How are these children, Philip and his friends like Jesus? They include everyone.