Second Sunday in Lent

Year C

Second Sunday in Lent

Images

A baptismal journey

Baptismal promises

Points to note

The readings for Lent are structured as a journey, a journey of faith not just for the catechumens but for all the faithful as we prepare to renew our baptismal cleansing at Easter.  The journey began with the testing of Jesus in the desert on the first Sunday of Lent.  This Sunday, we see the desired goal of our Lenten journey.

As part of the Easter, we renew our baptismal promises.  It will be good to get the children to renew them at the end of the Liturgy of the Word, after the discussions.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Praise to you, O Christ!

From the bright cloud, the Father’s voice was heard:

“This is my Son, the beloved.  Listen to him.”

Praise to you, O Christ!

Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke

Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ

(Lk 9:28-36)

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and went up to the mountain to pray.  As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning.  Suddenly there were two men talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you one for Moses and one for Elijah.”-- He did not know what he was saying.  As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud, the disciples were afraid.  And a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One.  Listen to him.”  And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.  The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Discussions

Imagine if you have to go on a long journey.  Would you like to go alone or would you prefer to be accompanied?  Now, think of a journey where you have to walk for days as in the olden days.  Does anyone still want to walk alone?  It can be boring and it can be dangerous.  Discuss how as humans, we all need to be with people.  We are all part of a society and we always need people around us.  Imagine a society without people and we are always alone – would you like to be in such a society?

Discuss how Lent is like a journey.  Discuss what is at the end of the journey – the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  As such, Lent is that journey we make with Jesus on his final days on earth. 

Every journey has a destination – nowadays we set the GPS for it.  What is the destination of the Lenten journey?  It is important that we do not end up with the crucifixion.  The Lenten journey ends at the Easter Vigil and so, our Lenten journey ends with the resurrection of Jesus.

Get the children to imagine how Jesus would look like at the point of the resurrection.  I would imagine that there would be a lot of shining light and he would look perfect – no longer the battered body taken down from the cross.  His clothes, while plain would be a dazzling white of purity.  Would he look like the Jesus in the story we just read?

Explain that this story gives us a glimpse of the destination of the journey we embark on for Lent.  We are to be white and dazzling like Jesus.  How do we do that?  We cleanse ourselves.  We do that by the three practices of Lent

1.     Prayer

2.     Penitence

3.     Alms-giving

How do we do all these three things during Lent?  If possible, get the children to make a commitment for each of these three practices.

BAPTISMAL PROMISES

Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?

I do.

Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?

I do.

Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?

I do.

Do you believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

I do.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

I do.