Objective:
The middle school youth will examine the priorities in their lives and be challenged to see the importance of setting Christ and their faith life above all other things. Their other priorities will fall into place when God is set as number one.
Overview:
With the advanced and constantly moving society we live in today, our middle school youth seem to find themselves with lives filled with activity. School alone used to take up the majority of their time, but today there seem to be a multitude of outside factors constantly being added to their already full plates. From sport commitments to dance to school clubs, even to just spending time with family and friends, all of these factors leave very little time not only for middle school youth themselves, but for God. With their coaches, instructors and peers pulling them in so many different directions, it ultimately becomes easier for them to disregard Mass and their faith formation. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus challenges us to look at the anxieties of everyday life that seem to distract our priorities:
If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil (Matthew 6:33-34).