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This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. We call this Sunday Gaudete, which means “Rejoice” in Latin. In this Sunday’s Second Reading, Saint Paul tells us to “Rejoice always.”
When talking about Gaudete Sunday, Raniero Cantalamessa, who is one of the new Cardinals of the Catholic Church, says that Saint Paul also writes that Christians should “rejoice in hope” (Romans 12:12), be joyful today, be joyful for the wait. Cardinal Cantalamessa continues saying that we should not wait to be completely healthy and happy to share a smile with others. “We must learn to withhold anything that upsets us and share joy and positive things with others.”
We pray that you seek and find all the joy God offers you this week.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find a helpful tip for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and information about our online resources and seasonal activities. Here are tips for teaching the Gospel Weeklies lessons this week:
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is born to us.
As we continue to wait during Advent, this lesson will help the children relate to the people in Jesus’ time who waited for him to come too. Do not forget to bring the Advent wreath and candle from 11/29.
To prepare for the lesson, we suggest that you prepare magazine photos showing different emotions to bring to class. Make sure you have at least one picture per child. To illustrate the story, we recommend that you make a Christmas countdown chain for your class in advance. You can do it by stapling as many colored paper strips together as there are days until Christmas. It is a good idea to have one or two aides to help the children with the cutting activities.
Find a coloring page to accompany “The Christmas Countdown Chain” here.
Promise
Lesson Theme: We wait with joy.
Sunday’s Gospel again features John the Baptist who tells the people who come to listen to him that he is not the Messiah they are waiting for. Promise does not use this story but tells instead the part of the Christmas Gospel that leads up to the birth of Jesus.
For the “Getting-Ready Mobile” activity, you can make mobiles with hangers, dowels, rulers, or paint stirrers from the hardware store. If time is limited, you may simply send the ornaments home for their family Christmas trees. NOTE: After the ornaments are cut out, save the leftover section that contains Family Corner, Word of the Week, and Eucharist Quote. Send it home with the children.
Good News
Lesson Theme: We wait with joyful hearts.
Make sure that the children make the connection that Jesus is the Messiah that John the Baptist talks about in the Gospel. The Catholic Faith Word is Messiah. Explain that Christ isn’t Jesus’ last name. Christ is a title that means the same thing as Messiah—anointed one, one set apart for an important job.
For the “I Can Help” activity, you will need to supply yellow-gold paper in 5-inch squares. You may use them to decorate your classroom or send home as tree ornaments.
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus calls forth the best in us.
If you choose to make the O Antiphon mobile, you may wish to prepare one as a sample. The story in this week’s lesson may be performed as a play, but don’t be overwhelmed by props or costuming. It’s easily read as you read all Venture stories—by taking turns and through dramatic reading.
Visions
Lesson Theme: John the Baptist prepares for Jesus.
In this lesson, we present an extended activity of creating Jesse Trees or mobiles using the O Antiphons on page 6. If you choose to do this activity during class, make sure you make extra-copies of page 6 before you have the young people cut out the circles with the antiphons.
DON’T FORGET to check out our Unit 2 Overview Webinars. You can find them in English and in Spanish here.
Image credit: VAKS-Stock Agency/Shutterstock.com
