Welcome to this week’s Living Word. Our theme is Inspiration. We usually use this word to talk about great ideas or talented people, but the word comes from the Latin inspirare, which literally means “to breathe into.” In the Bible, God breathes life into Adam. In our lives, the Holy Spirit breathes energy, courage, and ideas into us. To be “inspired” is to be filled with the breath of God.

The Breath

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

A reading from the book of Genesis

“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.”

The Word of the Lord

R./ Thanks be to God.

Think about that image. A human body formed out of dust—perfectly made, but completely still. It wasn’t alive until God breathed into it. This is the difference between existing and living. We can go through school just “existing”—doing the work, eating lunch, going home. We are like the dust figure. But “Inspiration” is when we wake up. It’s when we find something we love, or when we see someone doing something amazing, and we feel a spark inside. That spark is an echo of God’s breath. God doesn’t just want you to exist; He wants you to be inspired—to be fully alive.

Discussion Questions:

• What is the difference between just “surviving” the school week and actually feeling “alive”?
  
• Can you remember a specific moment when you felt truly inspired by something (a song, a speech, a person)? How did it physically feel?
  

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The Spark

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross. Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

When do you feel most “in the zone”? When musicians play, or athletes run, or artists draw, they sometimes enter a state of flow where everything else disappears. They are totally connected to what they are doing. In the movie Soul, Pixar visualises this “zone” as a place between the physical world and the spiritual world. It shows us that when we are truly inspired, we are touching something divine.

• If someone looked closely at your life (the words you speak, the texts you send), what image would they see forming?
• Jayce Hall took time and patience to create that image. Are you patient with your own faith?

The Action

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

We can’t always find inspiration inside ourselves. Sometimes, we need to look at others. The Bible talks about a “Cloud of Witnesses”—all the holy people who have gone before us, cheering us on. In the Catholic Church, we call them Saints. But saints aren’t just people in stained glass windows; they are anyone who breathes God’s love into the world. Today, we are going to identify who inspires us.

The Wall of Inspiration You have a Post-it note.

1. Identify: Think of one person who inspires you.
   • It could be a famous figure (like Martin Luther King Jr or a Saint).
   • It could be a family member (Nan, Dad).
   • It could be a teacher or friend.
2. Write: Write their name on the note.
3. The Reason: Underneath, write one word about why they inspire you (e.g., “Courage”, “Kindness”, “Patience”).
4. Stick it: Add it to the door/board to create our form’s “Cloud of Witnesses.”

Look at the names on the wall. These people are ordinary humans who let God breathe through them. Let their example give you a boost today. If they can do it, so can you.