UNIT 5
An Alternative: Seeking the Kingdom of God
Lesson Aim:
•	To know that the Kingdom of God is a nonviolent way to live differently than the present reality.
•	Understand violence as part of a domination system.
•	Evaluate how nonviolence can build up a sense of community.
The question of nonviolence  is to use our creativity for the benefit of all. 

Critical Awareness Task:
Display pictures of: (resource disk: Images)
•	Jesus with a rifle V    Jesus on the cross,
•	The Vatican        V    Jesus in the homeless queue,
•	Crusaders            V    Jesus hugging Osama Bin Laden.
Invite the class to comment on each comparison.

Gospel story: 

Luke 10:25-37  The Parable of the Good Samaritan
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too,  a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denari  and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Life narrative:  
Discuss:
•	The chances for world peace,
•	Examples of living a “third-way”, Jesus’ way, in response to the problems of life.
•	Ways of making the Kingdom of God more real in your neighbourhood.

Prayer/Meditation: 
PPP  on  ‘Colours of the World’  and song by Enya. (resource disk)
To show the beauty and diversity of God’s creation being allowed to blossom in peace.

Other Resources:  
“To be Hopeful” by John Dear.