Every Advent in 6th grade catechism class we cover prophecies by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Micah, Zechariah, and Malachi. I read each passage and the kids figure out what it prophesies. Mostly they anticipate something about Jesus, but not always. This is the bit I read from Daniel:
“I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened…and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. “
The kids will readily connect this to the Second Coming. I’ll say a bit about the ‘son of man,’ and tell them to look out for Jesus quoting Daniel after he’s arrested. (“I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, “He has uttered blasphemy.”)
But on one occasion before I could allude to Jesus’ trial, one child blurted out, “That’s the same as the song at church last Sunday!” And I’m looking at her: huh? what? Last Sunday we had that song! Umm…that song…yes, yes, we did, genius daughter, this one!” and I sang the opening verse, more or less:
“Lo! he comes, with clouds descending,
once for our salvation slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
something-something of his train:
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.”
“That’s an Advent hymn! Yes honorary daughter, we just started Advent last week! The words are based on Daniel’s prophecy! You are too smart! By the way y’all, lots of hymn lyrics are taken from the Bible, so pay attention, you may recognize Bible stuff from class in the hymns. And if you do, you will of course say so in class and also point it out to your parents.”
I should mention that 12-year-olds can be very big thinkers; and being a catechist, I get this sort of present from September through April, not just around Christmas.
Copyright 2014, Christian LeBlanc
Christian LeBlanc
Christian LeBlanc is a revert whose pre-Vatican II childhood was spent in South Louisiana, where he marinated in a Catholic universe and acquired a Catholic imagination. During his middle school years in South Carolina, Christian was catechized under the benevolent dictatorship of Sister Mary Alphonsus, who frequently admonished him using the nickname "Little Pagan." After four years of teaching Adult Ed and RCIA, he returned to Sr. Alphonsus' old classroom to teach Catechism himself. Married to Janet, the LeBlancs have five children and two grandsons. Christian and Janet belong to St. Mary's Parish in Greenville, South Carolina. Christian also posts at Amazing Catechists and his blog, Smaller Manhattans. He is the author of The Bible Tells Me So: A Year of Catechizing Directly from Scripture.
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