Empowering Good Manners in

Everyday Life
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Analyze the components of effective communication in

both divine revelation and human interaction.

Value the role of clear communication in deepening

one’s relationship with God and others.

Practice clear communication techniques.

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Examine how divine revelation manifests through

both Scripture and human experience.

Evaluate personal responses to God’s

communication in daily life.

Engage in reflective prayer about personal

experiences of divine communication.
Revelation and Human Experience
show how God’s truth connects to
our lives.
In this lesson, we will examine how
Revelation interacts with human
experiences, especially in complex
situations.
 Meanwhile, the boy
Samuel served the LORD by
assisting Eli. Now in those
days messages from the
LORD were very rare, and
visions were quite
uncommon.
 One night Eli, who was
almost blind by now, had
gone to bed. The lamp of
God had not yet gone out,
and Samuel was sleeping in
the Tabernacle near the Ark
of God.
Suddenly the LORD called
out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel
replied. “What is it?” He got
up and ran to Eli. “Here I am.
Did you call me?” “I didn’t
call you,” Eli replied. “Go
back to bed.” So he did.
Then the LORD called out
again, “Samuel!” Again
Samuel got up and went to
Eli. “Here I am. Did you call
me?” “I didn’t call you, my
son,” Eli said. “Go back to
bed.”
Samuel did not yet know the
LORD because he had never
had a message from the
LORD before. So the LORD
called a third time, and once
more Samuel got up and
went to Eli.
“Here I am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the
LORD who was calling the
boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go
and lie down again, and if
someone calls again, say,
‘Speak, LORD, your servant is
listening.’”
So Samuel went back to
bed. And the LORD came
and called as before,
“Samuel! Samuel!” And
Samuel replied, “Speak,
your servant is listening.”(1
Samuel 3:1-10)
In the passage from 1 Samuel 3:1-10, we
find Samuel’s transformative journey in
learning to recognize and respond to
God’s voice. Initially, Samuel heard God’s
call but mistook it for Eli’s voice,
highlighting how divine communication
can often come in familiar ways.
Through Eli’s guidance, Samuel learned
the vital skill of discernment – being able
to distinguish God’s voice from other
voices in his life.
This process beautifully illustrates
how God communicates with us
today. Like Samuel, we might not
immediately recognize God
speaking through our experiences,
relationships, or daily events.
We often need mentors, like Eli, to
help us interpret and understand
these divine messages.
Effective communication is the
foundation of meaningful human
relationships and successful
interactions. It involves more than
just exchanging information—it’s
about understanding the
emotion and intentions behind
the information.
When we communicate effectively, we
are better able to understand others,
build trust, resolve conflicts, and create
environments where ideas and feelings
can be shared openly.
Effective communication requires a
complex interplay of skills including
speaking, listening, observing, and
empathizing.
When we communicate effectively, we
are better able to understand others,
build trust, resolve conflicts, and create
environments where ideas and feelings
can be shared openly.
Effective communication requires a
complex interplay of skills including
speaking, listening, observing, and
empathizing.
1. Verbal Communication
Elements
2. Non-Verbal
Communications
 Using precise language
and appropriate vocabulary to convey
thoughts and feelings accurately. This
includes being mindful of tone, pace, and
word choice.
 Demonstrating
genuine attention through appropriate
responses, clarifying questions, and non-
verbal cues that show engagement with
the speaker.
 Understanding and
appropriately using gestures, facial
expressions, and posture to reinforce
or complement verbal messages.
 Recognizing
and responding to others’ emotional
states while managing one’s own
emotions during communication.
In both divine revelation and human
interaction, effective communication
involves active listening, openness to the
message, and proper discernment.
Just as human dialogue requires
attention and understanding,
recognizing God’s voice demands
receptivity and careful interpretation of
His messages through Scripture, prayer,
and daily experiences.
Clear communication serves as a bridge in
both divine and human relationships. When
we communicate clearly with others, we
build trust and understanding.
Similarly, when we approach God with clarity
in prayer and maintain an open heart to His
word, we develop a deeper, more authentic
relationship with Him. This clarity helps us
better understand His will and share His
message with others.
The Catechism teaches that God
“addresses men as friends” (CCC
142) and reveals Himself through
words and deeds.
This personal dimension of
divine revelation transforms
mere information into a
relationship.
Through Scripture, tradition, and
human experience, God continues to
speak in ways that bridge the divine and
human realms.
The Church emphasizes that revelation
is not simply the transmission of
abstract truths but an invitation to
communion with God.
God reveals Himself not only
through the written word of
Scripture but also through human
experiences and relationships.
Scripture provides the foundation
for understanding God’s nature and
will, while our daily experiences offer
personal encounters with His
presence.
This dual manifestation of
divine revelation helps us
connect biblical truths with
our contemporary lives.
Our response to God’s communication
shapes our spiritual growth. When we
recognize His voice in prayer, Scripture
reading, or daily events, we must choose
how to act on these divine messages.
This involves discerning His will,
applying His wisdom to our decisions,
and allowing His truth to transform our
lives and relationships.
Clear communication requires both
speaking and listening skills. The
Catechism emphasizes the importance
of silence and receptivity in prayer (CCC
2717). This same principle applies to
human relationships.
When we cultivate clarity in our
communication with others, we often
find ourselves better equipped to
recognize and respond to God’s voice.
The Church’s tradition of lectio
divina provides a model for deep
listening that can be applied to
both divine and human
communication.
Lectio divina’s approach to deep
listening offers valuable insights for
both spiritual and interpersonal
communication.
Its core principles - careful
reading, meditation, response,
and contemplation - can
enhance how we engage with
others.
Just as one slowly absorbs and reflects
on sacred texts in lectio divina, we can
apply this same attentiveness in
human dialogue by truly absorbing
what others say, reflecting on their
meaning, responding thoughtfully,
and allowing space for deeper
understanding to emerge.
This deliberate, multi-layered
approach to listening helps
move conversations beyond
surface-level exchanges to
more meaningful interactions
characterized by presence and
genuine understanding.
1. Lectio (Reading)
2. Meditatio (Meditation)
3. Oratio (Prayer)
4. Contemplatio (Contemplation)
• Slow, attentive reading of the text
• Focus on what the text is literally saying
• Usually done with Scripture or sacred texts
• The goal is to understand “what is
happening” in the passage
• Reflect deeply on the meaning of the text
• Consider what the message means
personally
• Allow the words to resonate with your
experiences
• Ask “what is this text saying to me?”
• Respond to the text through prayer
• Express your thoughts, feelings, and
reactions
• Have a dialogue with God about what
emerged
• Move from reflection to personal response
• Rest quietly in God’s presence
• Let go of specific thoughts and words
• Simply be present with what has been
revealed
• Allow for deeper integration of the insights