Third Sunday in Lent

Year B

Concepts

The Ten Commandments

Points to note

An interesting salient feature of the Ten Commandments, which every Christian learns from childhood, is the many injunctions against doing things.  There were speculations, probably unsubstantiated, that the original commandments were positive in nature and not negative.  Whatever the scholastic proof, it is recommended that the commandments be presented as a positive action, and not a negative prohibition.

In going through the commandments, it is important to emphasise the fact that the factor underlying the commandments is love.  Commentators have often noted that commandments 1-3 refer to love for God while commandments 4-10 refer to love for neighbours.

Liturgy

The Alleluia is not sung during the season of Lent.  This week, there is no Praise and Glory to God, the Gospel Acclamation used during Lent, as the Gospel is not read.  For the same reason, there is no opening dialogue.

A Reading from the Book of Exodus

(Ex 20: 1-17)

God spoke all these words.  He said, “I am the Lord, your God who brought out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

1.     You shall have no gods except me.  You shall not make yourselves an idol of God.

2.     You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

3.     Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.  For six days you shall your work, but the seventh day is a holy day for the Lord your God.

4.     Honour your father and your mother

5.     You shall not kill.

6.     You shall not commit adultery.

7.     You shall not steal.

8.     You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

9.     You shall not desire your neighbour’s house. 

10.   You shall not desire your neighbour’s wife, or his servant, man or woman, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is his.

This is the Word of the Lord

Discussion

What is a covenant?  An agreement.  We often refer to a covenant as an agreement between God and his people.  God first made an agreement with Noah: remember the story of the rainbow?  Then, there was later an agreement between God and Abraham:  remember the story from last Sunday?  Then, other people wanted to know how to worship God.  God then handed down the Ten Commandments through Moses as an example on how to live their lives and become people of God.

You may want to go through the Ten Commandments one by one.  Encourage the children to give an example for each of the commandments as to how they could keep them.

Discuss why we should keep the commandments.  Is it because we want to avoid being punished?  Is it because we want to be obedient to God?  It is because it is a good thing to do?  Is it because we love God?  Is it because we love our friends and family?  In many ways, this is not a question that has a right or wrong answer.  Be sensitive to what the children are saying.

Without being dogmatic, refer to Lk10:25-28, where Jesus was asked as to which was the greatest of the commandments and he replied that it was to love God and neighbour.

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Year B

Concepts

New life

No wheat unless the grain dies

Points to note

We have returned to using the Gospel reading.  This reading though does not contain the full reading in the Missal (vs 20-30) as I have left out those verses that have nothing to do with this week’s theme.  The imagery this Sunday is that of a grain of wheat that ‘dies’ but re-emerges as wheat.  You may wish to refer to the leaflet for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A for further reference.

Much of the symbolism of Lent is lost on those who live in the tropics.  Spring, the meaning of the word ‘Lent’, is the season when seemingly dead trees that have shed its leaves in winter come back to life and flowers blossom.  Spring is also the time when many animals like sheep and rabbits have their young (it gives them a longer time to grow strong before the onset of a cold winter), which is the idea behind Easter Bunnies.  If this is explained to the children, care must be taken to ensure that the children do not get confused or lose their orientation.

Liturgy

 

Gospel Acclamation

The Alleluia is not sung during the season of Lent. 

Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God!

If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me;

wherever I am, my servant will be there too.

Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Gospel

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John

All:   Glory to you O Lord

 (Jn 12: 20-30)

Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some pilgrims.  They approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”  Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus.  Jesus replied to them:

“Now the time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

I tell you, most solemnly,

unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies,

it remains only a single grain;

but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.

Anyone who loves his life loses it;

anyone who hates his life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

If a man serves me, he must follow me,

wherever I am, my servant will be there too.

If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Dialogue

When you look at an egg, does it look alive?  Helps if you have an egg handy.  What happens if the mother hen sits on it for three weeks?  Discuss how things that look dead can come to life.  Any other examples?

In this reading, Jesus talked about a grain of wheat.  What do farmers do with a wheat grain?  Plant it.  What do we get out of it?  Wheat to make flour for bread.  If the farmer never planted it though, what would it be?  It would remain a grain of wheat.  Explain that is how Jesus tried to explain why he had to die on the cross.  Unless he dies, like the grain of wheat, nothing good will ever come out of it.

Jesus once called himself the resurrection and the life.  What did he mean by that?  Discuss how Jesus said that those who believe in him will never die but will live forever.  Explain that Jesus has promised us eternal life in Paradise.  For children less easily satisfied, you may need to use images of misery for death and images of happiness for life.

Discuss the significance of new life in baptism.  During baptism by immersion, the person to be baptised is immersed under water and re-emerges as a new person with a new life, a Christian.  After being baptised at the Easter midnight mass, the newly baptised neophyte lights his candle from the Paschal candle. 

For symbolism of new life, you may wish to refer to previous weeks’ leaflets, especially those of the Lenten readings in year A.  Also we all get Easter eggs, eggs to symbolise new life; and Easter bunnies, rabbits having their young in spring.

You may wish to link this up with real life.  Like Jesus having to go through death on the cross to give us new life, we often have to go through something difficult or even nasty, in order to achieve something we want.   For instance: exams; working hard to prepare a party; any other ideas?

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Year B

Concepts

 

God’s love

God’s gifts

Points to note

Both the first reading and the Gospel reading are rather heavy going for the children.  For that reason, I have opted for the unusual choice of the reading from the letters of St Paul.

It is important to emphasise after last week’s Ten Commandments that God does not leave it up to us to find our way to be true to the commandments that he gave.  He also gave us gifts that will help us to be faithful to them.  As such, we should concentrate on those gifts with the charisma of love and faith.

Liturgy

The Alleluia is not sung during the season of Lent.  This week, there is no Praise and Glory to God, the Gospel Acclamation used during Lent, as the Gospel is not read.  For the same reason, there is no opening dialogue.

Explain that this reading is part of a letter from St Paul to his friends in the Church in Ephesus, a town in Turkey.

A Reading from the letter of St Paul to the church in Ephesus

(Ep 2:4-10)

God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ  -- it is through grace that you have been saved – and raised us up with him and gave us a place with him in heaven, in Christ Jesus.

This was to show for all ages to cone, through his goodness towards us in Christ Jesus, how infinitely rich he is in grace.  Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit.  We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to love the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.

This is the Word of the Lord

Discussions

Does anybody have a friend’s or a family birthday coming up soon?  Have you planned what gifts do you wish to give?  Drag out this part of the discussion, as children tend to like talking about presents.  Compliment any child who comes up with an innovative or thoughtful idea for a present.

Why do we give presents?  Do we give presents to people we like or to people we don’t like?  Although we should steer the discussion towards the idea that we give presents because we think it would be a good idea for the recipient to get such a gift, we may need to grasp the nettle if a child were to suggest giving presents so as to receive some in return.   You may wish to put it aside and return to it after discussing that God’s expectations when he gives us gifts but get your answer ready.  At one point, introduce the idea that people sometimes give presents that are educational.

Does God love us?  Does he therefore give us gifts?  What gifts?   Expand the list to include the tangible and intangible.

Why does God give us gifts?  Emphasise that God does not get anything out of giving us gifts.  Just as parents give educational toys to children to make them smarter, likewise God gives us gifts to make us better people.  End the discussion with the point that as God gave us gifts for a purpose, we should use it for that purpose.

Also, God isn't stupid. He couldn't have given us the Ten Commandments (which were in last week's reading) without the abilities to follow them. So, he must have given us some gifts to follow them. Discuss what gifts they were.

Does God want anything in return when he gives us the gifts?  Explain that God has want of nothing from us but he does have expectations – that we use his gifts wisely so that we can join him in heaven.  In a way, gifts are like passports; they do not get us there but they help us get in.

Second Sunday in Lent

Year B

Second Sunday of Lent

Concepts

A sacrifice

Points to note

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

This Sunday, we see the sacrifice made by our ancestor in faith.  To illustrate this, I have used the first reading.  The story of the sacrifice of Isaac is very central to our faith and forms one of the readings for the Easter Vigil.  I have actually included the full text of the story instead of the summarised one in the Missal.  It should be read as a story and do not hesitate to dramatise if you so wish.

Liturgy

If the concept of Lent has not yet been discussed with the children, use last week’s leaflet to do so.

The Alleluia is not sung during the season of Lent.  This week, there is no Praise and Glory to God, the Gospel Acclamation used during Lent, as the Gospel is not read.  For the same reason, there is no opening dialogue.

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

(Gn 22:1-13,15-18)

God put Abraham to the test, “Abraham, Abraham,” he called.  “Here I am,” he replied.  “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah.  There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.”

Early the next morning, Abraham saddled his ass and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.  He chopped wood for the burnt offering and started his journey to the place God had pointed out to him.  On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  Then Abraham said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey.  The boy and I will go over there; we will worship and come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, loaded it in Isaac, and carried it in his own hands the fire and the knife.  Then the two of them set out together.  Isaac spoke to his father Abraham.  “Father,” he said.  “Yes, my son,” Abraham replied.  “Look.” He said here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  Abraham answered, “My son, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.”  Then the two of them went on together.

When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood.  Then he stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son.

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven.  “Abraham, Abraham,” he said.  “Here I am,” he replied.  “Do not raise your hand against the boy,” the angel said,  “Do not harm him, for now I know you love God.  You have not refused me your son.”  Then looking around, Abraham saw a ram caught by his horns in a bush.  Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son.

The angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven.  “I swear by own self – it is the Lord who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore.  Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates of their enemies.  All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

If you have to explain the concept of Lent to the children, this discussion should be kept short, as the bulk of the discussions would have taken place before the reading.

Discuss the reading and bring out again interesting parts of the story:

·       Abraham was so obedient to God that he did not question God when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac.  But discuss how he would have felt.  Also, discuss how the children would have felt if they found out that God had asked their Dads to do such a thing.  But be careful that you do not make this too traumatic a topic to some children.

·       Abraham trusted God that he went to the place God has shown him without knowing where it was.  Note that he has to carry his own wood even though the place he went to actually had wood there.  Note that we often go on a journey of faith without knowing where we will end up.

·       Abraham’s heavy heart was contrasted with that of the innocence of Isaac.  Discuss how Abraham must have felt when Isaac asked him about where the offering is to be.

·       God had mercy!  It was not a sacrifice of Isaac that he wanted but a sacrifice of obedience and love from Abraham.  Discuss that in this journey of Lent, we begin with a similar sacrifice.

You may wish to discuss what kind of sacrifices that we could make.  Emphasise that we do not make sacrifices and suffer for the sake of suffering but to be with Jesus and all his friends in the world today in their sufferings.

A few interesting discussion points for more matured groups

·       Where was the mom, Sara, in all these?  Can you imagine her asking her son where they went and he told her, “Dad tried to sacrifice me”.  Would she had trusted her husband much after that?  How would you as a mother felt?  Yet, Sara remained faithful raising Isaac as the son of Abraham after that.

·       What about the boy?

First Sunday in Lent

Year B

First Sunday in Lent

Images

Sacrifice

Lent

Points to note

As this is the first Sunday of Lent, we should discuss the significance of Lent and Ash Wednesday.  Facilitators may need to take note that this may have already been discussed with some children last Sunday but there really is no harm going through the same ground for the benefit of absent children.  Provided such practice is not done too often, children are usually happy to display what they have learnt the previous Sunday.

In line with the reading, children should walk away with the idea that they make at least one sacrifice during the season of Lent.  If possible, the children should make a public acknowledgement of the sacrifice they will make.  In discussions with the children, link up sacrifice of Jesus with the sacrifices that they will have to make.  Also, emphasise the fact that in undergoing sacrifices, there will be temptations to lure us away.  This will linkup with the reading.

Liturgy

Before the reading, explain that this is the season of Lent and the implications of it.  You may refer to the box at the end of this leaflet.

Acclamation before the Gospel

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Man does not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Gospel

Discuss with the children about the new season of the Christian calendar that we are entering.  This is available in the end panel of this leaflet & for a more complete explanation, at Soundbites about Lent and Easter

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with your spirit.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke

All:   Glory to you O Lord

 (Mk1:12-15)

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness, and he remained there for forty days and was tempted by Satan.  He was with the wild beasts and the angels looked after him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee.  There he proclaimed the Good News from God.  “The time has come,” he said, “and the kingdom of God is close at hand.  Repent, and believe the Good News.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Discussion

This discussion should be kept short as the bulk of the discussions take place before the reading.

Discuss the reading and bring out again interesting parts of the story:

·            After his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness to pray.

·            In the wilderness, he fasted.  Discuss about people who fasted to help them in their prayer.  Fasting is a reminder of our sacrifice.

·            Jesus was tempted when he fasted.  We, too, will be tempted when we fast.  We, too, will be tempted when we try to keep to our sacrifices.

You may wish to discuss what kind of sacrifices that we could make.  Emphasise that we do not make sacrifices and suffer for the sake of suffering but to be with Jesus and all his friends in the world today in their sufferings

I confess I confess to almighty God, and you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God Amen.

SACRIFICE FOR LENT For many of us, Lent goes hand-in-hand with sacrifice.  Today, what we sacrifice is pretty much a private matter and even Church laws are now comparatively relaxed. In the olden days, people were required to have only one meal a day, without meat, eggs, dairy or oil, during the whole of the season.  Imagine going for forty days without MacDonald's!!  In fact, until the twentieth century, this rule was applied to all Fridays of the year and in many countries, Wednesdays or Saturdays as well. Today, Church law in most countries only requires all adults (in US, defined as ages 14 to 60) to have only one full meal and two small snacks on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with no meat on both days.  Fish, amphibians and reptiles, which are not considered as meat, are allowed, as are meat in liquid form (eg., chicken broth).  There are no restrictions on drinks, and I was told, including alcohol!  We are also to abstain from meat on all Fridays in Lent. n England, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is known as Pancake Tuesday, when pancakes are eaten all over the country.  In the olden days before fridges were available, people take down all the eggs they have in the kitchen cupboards and make pancakes with them.  This is because they can't have eggs during Lent and the eggs will not keep until Easter.  One can imagine that the rules regarding what can and what cannot be eaten during Lent gave rise to numerous interesting practices and recipes for Lent, and also Fridays of the year. Pretzels, made of flour & water and none of the forbidden eggs & dairy, is a Lent food developed by German monks.  The shape is that of an angel/Christian at prayer - which is why the logo for Auntie Anne's Pretzels has an angel with a halo on top. Falafels, vegetarian meatballs popular in Middle Eastern streets, were first made by Egyptian Copts for Lent.   The most interesting Lent food, is- Japanese tempura.  Apparently, tempura was introduced to the Japanese by 16th century Portuguese Jesuits.  The word comes from the Latin word for period (tempura therefore has the same root as temporal), referring to the period of forty days, a technical Church term for Lent.  I guess that is why there is no meat tempura.