The Parable of Juan and the Fishbowl By Tara Robinson (Notes: Slides illustrate “A Parable,” found on pages 89–90 in The Paschal Mystery: Christ’s Mission of Salvation student book, from Saint Mary’s Press.)

(Notes: “Juan was a boy about six years old who lived in Spanish Harlem, in New York City” is the cue for showing this slide.) Juan was a boy about six years old who lived in Spanish Harlem, in New York City

One day when Juan was scavenging, he found a glass bowl covered with grime (Notes: “One day when Juan was scavenging, he found a glass bowl covered with grime” is the cue for showing this slide.)

(Notes: “After a short time, however, the thrill of discovery began to wear off, and Juan started to get bored” is the cue for showing this slide.) After a short time, however, the thrill of discovery began to wear off, and Juan started to get bored

So he decorated the fishbowl

Once more, however, the wonder and charm of the bowl began to fade for Juan, and he began to lose that special thrill he had felt, so he asked his mom for money to by a fish (Notes: “Once more, however, the wonder and charm of the bowl began to fade for Juan, and he began to lose that special thrill he had felt” is the cue for showing this slide.)

(Notes: “Juan’s feet seemed to fly above the sidewalk as he ran to the store on the corner” is the cue for showing this slide.) Juan’s feet seemed to fly above the sidewalk as he ran to the corner store because his mother gave him money to buy a fish. Once he got the fish, he told it to play with all of his decorations and swim threw the path he mad, but the fish wouldn’t.

Juan ran to his mother in tears because the fish wouldn’t do what he said. (Notes: “Juan ran to his mother in tears” is the cue for showing this slide.)

Juan’s mother said, “The trouble is that you and the fish speak different languages. He doesn’t understand what you’re trying to tell him. The only way he could understand is if you were a fish and showed him how to do all of those things, and then maybe the fish would follow what you are doing.”

So Juan spent a lot of time wishing he could be a fish. (Notes: “So Juan spent a lot of time wishing he could be a fish” is the cue for showing this slide.)

The last paragraph in the Parable of Juan and the Fishbowl relates to Jesus Christ and how he showed us how to live is that God wanted us to act like him and be good in every way that we could be, to be holy. So God sent his only son Jesus Christ to show us how to live holy-like and show us how to be good Christians.