Sunday, March 12, 2017

Third Sunday in Lent

Year A
Third Sunday in Lent


Images

Water
Life


Points to note


The imagery used for the next three Sundays centres around the baptism.  For this Sunday, the imagery is that of water.  You may wish to have a bowl of water as the centrepiece in the room but make sure you have a very efficient mop handy.  The reading used is vivid but very intricately related to the Gospel reading.  You may wish to refer to the adults leaflet for further guidance.



Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

There is no acclamation as the Gospel is not read.

Reading
Explain that the people of Israel have left Egypt and are wandering around in the desert.  They have just been fed by God using the manna bread and quails but they are still not satisfied.

As the Gospel is not read, the sign of the cross is omitted but the introductory dialogue (i.e., the Lord be with you...) may be used.

The Lord be with you.
All:   And also with you.

A Reading from the Book of Exodus
(Ex 17: 3-7)
The people were thirsty and complained against Moses.  “Why did you bring us out of Egypt?” they asked, “Was it so that I and my children and cattle should die of thirst?”  Moses appealed to the Lord.  “How am I to deal with this people?” he said “A little more and they will stone me!”  The Lord said to Moses, “Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the front of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go.  I shall be standing there before you on the rock, at Horeb.  You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.”  This is what Moses did, seen by the elders of Israel.  The place was named Massah[1] and Meribah[2] because of the grumbling of the people of Israel and because they doubted the Lord by asking, “Is the Lord with us, or not?”

This is the Word of the Lord


Dialogue

What do we use water for?  For drinking and for cleaning.  Discuss what would happen if we have no water.  Discuss what happens if there is too much water.

What does the priest pour over the head of a person during a baptism?  Why does he use water?  Why not something like sand?  Be prepared for some really silly answers!

Can you remember two stories in the Bible where there was lots of water?  The crossing of the Red Sea and the Flood.  In each, take the children through the story, emphasising that in each case, the water drowned the baddies and saved the good people. 

Likewise when we are baptised with water, the water kills the sinner in us and the Christian is born.  You may need to use concepts like the naughty child disappearing and the good child replaces the bad.  The concept of death and rebirth in the waters of baptism is very apparent in the practice of baptism by immersion by the Orthodox, some Protestant and some Catholic churches.  When a person is submerged below the water, he or she is said to have drowned and a new person, a Christian  emerges from the waters.

Another symbolic significance in the use of water in baptism is the Church rule that only moving water may be used for baptism.  Water that is moving is said to be alive.  Ideally we would all be baptised in a flowing river as Jesus was.

You may now bring the discussion back round to the uses of water that we started the session with.  Water gives us life in Jesus.  Water also cleanses us of our sins.  That is why we use water for baptism.  During the Easter midnight mass, part of the beginning of the mass is devoted to the blessing of the water.  The priest dips the newly lit Easter candle into the baptismal water (not fully, of course) and blesses it.  The water is then used for baptism during the year.


The concept of water cleansing and giving life isn’t all that difficult to impart to the children if you parallel it with simple everyday examples.  Take your time to explain if necessary, as understanding this will help them grasp next week’s imagery of light.

If you have the time, you may wish to discuss other uses of holy water in the Church.  We use it to bless ourselves when we enter the church.  Sometimes, people may take some holy water home as a way of taking a bit of the holiness of the church home with them.

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.


[1] Massah   trial
[2] Meribah   contention

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