√ √A roll of packing tape, colourful markers (sharpies work best)
√ a phone with a flashlight function or a small light
√ You might be able to find the story of Jesus and the Caananite woman in a children’s Bible; if you cannot and want a story in children’s language, you can download a free parable based on Matthew 15 by Miriam Rempel on CommonWord.ca.
This resource can be used to discuss the theme of respect, but it doesn’t allow for an opportunity to introduce children to the Canaanite woman as a teacher of balance.
√ a phone with a flashlight function or a small light
√ You might be able to find the story of Jesus and the Caananite woman in a children’s Bible; if you cannot and want a story in children’s language, you can download a free parable based on Matthew 15 by Miriam Rempel on CommonWord.ca.
This resource can be used to discuss the theme of respect, but it doesn’t allow for an opportunity to introduce children to the Canaanite woman as a teacher of balance.
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Take a moment to centre yourselves and arrive together. If you have small children, you might specifically invite them to take five deep breaths.
Light a Candle
Opening Prayer
Spirit of Love, you are with us always. We ask for open hearts and open minds as we seek to live in a way that honours the earth and all her children. Amen.
Spirit of Love, you are with us always. We ask for open hearts and open minds as we seek to live in a way that honours the earth and all her children. Amen.
Song: God Bless Every Step
Respect is represented by the buffalo. The buffalo gives every part of its being to sustain the human way of living, not because it is of less value, but because it respects the balance and needs of others. To honor all creation is to have respect. Live honorably in teachings and in your actions towards all things. Do not waste and be mindful of the balance of all living things. Share and give away what you do not need. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Do not be hurtful to yourself or others (The Seven Grandfather Teachings: Respect, Uniting Three Fires Against Violence).
Gallery Paintings
Take time to explore the art entitled “Respect” in the online exhibition. Sift through the artist reflections as the age and stage of any children present allows.
What do you notice about the artwork? What do you wonder about the artwork?
Bible Reflection
The Greek word for respect in the New Testament is sometimes translated as “honour.” This word can refer to giving something or someone value, or it can refer to having admiration and esteem for someone. Some of the teachings about honour and respect in the Bible get a little complicated to understand in our world today. This is partly because they have been used throughout history to demand that people with less power follow the orders of people with more power, for example, that women obey their husbands and enslaved people obey their masters. This doesn’t sound much like the balance buffalo teaches! It also doesn’t line up very well with the practice of love encouraged by Jesus or the Seven Sacred Teachings.
Perhaps, one teacher of balance we can find in Christian tradition is the Canaanite woman (a woman who was not Jewish like Jesus was) who asks Jesus to heal her daughter.
Matthew 15:21-28
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
In this passage, Jesus initially says he will not heal the Canaanite woman’s daughter because she is not Jewish like Jesus, and Jesus says his job is to work within his own community. He says that working outside his ministry is like a father feeding his children’s pets instead of his children. But the Canaanite woman challenges him. She says that even the pets get the scraps from the table, reminding Jesus of her need for help, just like Jewish folks were asking for his help. This is another uncomfortable passage in the Bible because Jesus seems to be mistreating someone. But part of what we see in the Canaanite woman is someone who is asking for respect, advocating for her value as a human being. For demonstrating her value, Jesus does respect and honour her, saying she has “great faith!” and he heals her daughter.
Considering buffalo’s teaching, we should also reflect upon how Christian teachings speak about respect for all of creation, including non-human beings. We can find such respect in the Hebrew Bible, where the mountains and waters are seen as rejoicing with humans (see Psalm 98:7-8 and Isaiah 55:12). However, historically some Christians have misused biblical teaching about creation (especially Genesis 1:26-28) to justify having power over the land and her creatures instead of honouring them.
There are passages in the Bible that discuss the need to limit how and when we take from creation and how we make sure there is enough for everyone. For example, the laws laid out in Leviticus say that every six years farmers are to give the land rest, not sowing crops or pruning their vineyards (Leviticus 25). When the Israelites are wandering in the desert, God gives them food to eat, quail and manna, but they are not to take more than they need (Exodus 16). These teachings suggest a need for balance and respect for creation beyond having respect just for other humans.
Reflection Questions
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt disrespected? Were you able to stand up for yourself? How did that feel?
When have you failed to respect someone else?
What people, creatures, elements of creation do our communities have trouble respecting? Is there a way we can better respect them?
Art Activity
In Christianity we often speak of covenant relationships as the basis for respect. A covenant is a two-way relationship with agreements about how we are to treat one another. One of the symbols of a covenant is a rainbow (from the covenant God makes with Noah; Genesis 9:13-16). Use the video below to make a rainbow light. See what you can shine it on and try and think about what your responsibilities are to everything its light touches. Find out more here.
Considering buffalo’s teaching, we should also reflect upon how Christian teachings speak about respect for all of creation, including non-human beings. We can find such respect in the Hebrew Bible, where the mountains and waters are seen as rejoicing with humans (see Psalm 98:7-8 and Isaiah 55:12). However, historically some Christians have misused biblical teaching about creation (especially Genesis 1:26-28) to justify having power over the land and her creatures instead of honouring them.
There are passages in the Bible that discuss the need to limit how and when we take from creation and how we make sure there is enough for everyone. For example, the laws laid out in Leviticus say that every six years farmers are to give the land rest, not sowing crops or pruning their vineyards (Leviticus 25). When the Israelites are wandering in the desert, God gives them food to eat, quail and manna, but they are not to take more than they need (Exodus 16). These teachings suggest a need for balance and respect for creation beyond having respect just for other humans.
Reflection Questions
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt disrespected? Were you able to stand up for yourself? How did that feel?
When have you failed to respect someone else?
What people, creatures, elements of creation do our communities have trouble respecting? Is there a way we can better respect them?
In Christianity we often speak of covenant relationships as the basis for respect. A covenant is a two-way relationship with agreements about how we are to treat one another. One of the symbols of a covenant is a rainbow (from the covenant God makes with Noah; Genesis 9:13-16). Use the video below to make a rainbow light. See what you can shine it on and try and think about what your responsibilities are to everything its light touches. Find out more here.
Song: There is Enough
Try singing other verses: "I am enough..." "You are enough..." "God has enough..."
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Explore another page of the Home Engagement Resource rituals.
Simply click on the word/teaching you want to pursue.
Try singing other verses: "I am enough..." "You are enough..." "God has enough..."
Closing Prayer
May we journey with respect until we meet again. Amen.
May we journey with respect until we meet again. Amen.
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Explore another page of the Home Engagement Resource rituals.
Simply click on the word/teaching you want to pursue.