Sunday
5TH NOVEMBER
31st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 
Matthew 23: 1-12 
Today's Gospel challenges believers to ask: How authentic is my discipleship?  Believers are called to closely evaluate whether there is a disconnect between their lives and the Gospel.  Matthew mentions five areas to pay attention to: 
1.Hypocrisy
2.Protecting oneself from the same expectations the law requires from others 
​3.Lack of genuine care for others
4.Behaving to attract the attention of others 
5.Cashing in on the perks of office and making choices that reflect superiority to others   
Use this Ignatian framework for praying to make decisions that reflect authentic discipleship. 
Teacher Background
Gospel Reflection

Monday
6TH NOVEMBER
A Letter from God
If God could write a letter to you today, what would God say?  Listen, deep in your heart, then write what you think God is saying.  Hear what God is saying about your gifts; how much you're loved and who God wants you to become.   
Dear (your name). 
​I really want to tell you today that...  

Tuesday
7TH NOVEMBER
Nature and Reflection
Take the students outside the classroom. Go and stand in front of something that reminds you of  what God has created in the world or something amazing from creation.  Now take 1 minute in silence and stillness to say a prayer of gratitude to God in your heart, for the amazing world we live in.  Then take 1 minute in silence and stillness to listen in your heart.  What is it that God is asking you to do to protect our amazing world?  Make your commitment to God to do something in your everyday life to protect our environment.  (An alternative to going outside is show students  a nature image and go through the same steps.) 

Wednesday
8TH NOVEMBER
Praying though Music
Use 10 Best Classical Music Tracks For Calm And Tranquility as a stimulus for prayer (Erik Satie is a good choice). Notice the breathing pattern and slow the breathing down. Choose a sacred word or phrase e.g. Peace to me, Peace to you; Calm me Lord to write and colour whilst listening to the music.

Thursday
9TH NOVEMBER
Feast of  Dedication of Lateran Basiclica (St John)
The origin of the feast goes back to ancient times. In the year 313, the ban on Christianity was lifted by the Emperor Constantine who had recently converted from paganism to Christianity. Constantine gave the palace of the Laterani, which belonged to his wife Fausta, to the Pope as his private residence. A basilica was built beside the palace, and Pope Sylvester dedicated it to the Holy Saviour on November 9th 324.
Find out about the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran basilica 
Take a virtual tour of St John's Lateran basilica 
Prayer for Leaders to have Insight
Creator God,
Let us elect leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom. Give us the hearts to choose the leader who will work with other leaders to bring safety to the whole world. Give us leaders who lead this nation to virtue without seeking to impose our kind of virtue on the virtue of others.

Friday
10TH NOVEMBER
Tomorrow is remembrance day
Remembrance Day  11th November
Explore the symbols associated with Remembrance Day and familiarise students with the rituals and words, e.g. one minute of silence, red poppies. Pray a Litany of Remembrance for Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. For this Litany respond with “we remember them” and at the end "Lest we forget".