Every year the Totus Tuus program focuses on a different theme. This year we are teaching the grade school kids about the sorrowful mysteries and about the virtues. Every week, I teach the kids about the sacrifices Jesus made for us and all the suffering he went through during his time here on earth.
On Mondays we start with the agony in the garden and how Jesus sweat blood. Tuesdays we discuss the scourging at the pillar and how Jesus was whipped almost to the point of death. Wednesdays are about the crowning of thorns, and Thursdays is about carrying of the cross. Finally, Fridays are about the ultimate sacrifice, the crucifixion.
During the week, my teammates and I joke about some of the things we have to do and we motivate each other by saying, “It’s for the Lord,” like when there are just two brownies left at our host supper, but we are stuffed beyond belief from the amazing meal, we say, “We gotta eat them! It’s for the Lord.” We joke about some of the sacrifices we make during the week, but we all know deep down that none of the sufferings we are going through compare to the sufferings of Jesus.
Through the week, parishioners will come up to us and tell us we are a blessing, we are saints, that we are making a great sacrifice of our summer by coming and teaching the kids of their parish.
This summer is so much more of a reward for us than it is a sacrifice. All summer long we are fed amazing food, we spend a good portion of our day praying and being with Jesus and praising Him, and we teach kids all day long. Kids are fasinating humans. They are extremely curious about everything and they take everything you tell them and believe it. Instantly. (Even if one of your teammates tells all the kids at one parish that you are dating another one of your teammates, they will not forget it, for the entire week…)
Every week I am reminded of all that Jesus went through to allow us, people who were not even born at the time, to go be with Him in Paradise. I am reminded of all the suffering and hurt He endured for us, for me. Jesus sweat blood, He was whipped, He was made fun of and mocked, He carried the cross, and He died, all for me. The least I can do in return is give up a summer of my life to teach about Him, to share His story, to honor and praise Him.
Jesus suffered, I just teach.
On Mondays we start with the agony in the garden and how Jesus sweat blood. Tuesdays we discuss the scourging at the pillar and how Jesus was whipped almost to the point of death. Wednesdays are about the crowning of thorns, and Thursdays is about carrying of the cross. Finally, Fridays are about the ultimate sacrifice, the crucifixion.
During the week, my teammates and I joke about some of the things we have to do and we motivate each other by saying, “It’s for the Lord,” like when there are just two brownies left at our host supper, but we are stuffed beyond belief from the amazing meal, we say, “We gotta eat them! It’s for the Lord.” We joke about some of the sacrifices we make during the week, but we all know deep down that none of the sufferings we are going through compare to the sufferings of Jesus.
Through the week, parishioners will come up to us and tell us we are a blessing, we are saints, that we are making a great sacrifice of our summer by coming and teaching the kids of their parish.
This summer is so much more of a reward for us than it is a sacrifice. All summer long we are fed amazing food, we spend a good portion of our day praying and being with Jesus and praising Him, and we teach kids all day long. Kids are fasinating humans. They are extremely curious about everything and they take everything you tell them and believe it. Instantly. (Even if one of your teammates tells all the kids at one parish that you are dating another one of your teammates, they will not forget it, for the entire week…)
Every week I am reminded of all that Jesus went through to allow us, people who were not even born at the time, to go be with Him in Paradise. I am reminded of all the suffering and hurt He endured for us, for me. Jesus sweat blood, He was whipped, He was made fun of and mocked, He carried the cross, and He died, all for me. The least I can do in return is give up a summer of my life to teach about Him, to share His story, to honor and praise Him.
Jesus suffered, I just teach.