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In Sunday’s Gospel, the Devil tempts Jesus during his forty days in the desert. Jesus rejects the Devil’s suggestions and chooses to love and obey God his Father. We pray that, following Jesus’ example, we may remain faithful to God’s love.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Holy Heroes
Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Sunday Gospel Cartoon Reading and Lesson
Jesus’ Temptation
Ash Wednesday and Lent
Ash Wednesday & Lent in 60 Seconds. With LEGO!
Lent: Catholic Central
Lent in 3 Minutes
Cardinal Timothy Dolan: What Is Lent?
What Is Lent?
Holy Heroes: Ash Wednesday
Faith, Fun, and Celebration: Lent Episode (featuring John Burland)
Songs to Journey with Jesus During Lent, Featuring Miss Heidi and John Burland
The Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus prays to make good choices.
For this lesson, you will need markers, tape, crayons, scissors, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest you have at least one aide for the cutting activity.
Young children make many small choices every day. They decide about toys to play with, food to eat, and clothes to wear. They decide whether to obey parents and teachers, throw a tantrum, or offer cooperation. This Seeds lesson helps young children recognize the importance of making good choices. They will recognize that all Christians try to make good choices during Lent as a way to get ready for Easter.
Note: Prepare two signs in advance. One with a number 1 and a second with the number 2.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
“Choices” by John Burland
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus made good choices.
For this lesson, gather dice (one per pair of children) pencils, crayons, game markers, and a Church Year calendar.
Just as Jesus makes good choices in Sunday’s Gospel—choosing to obey and trust in God instead of the Devil, Promise children are invited to consider the choices they make—loving, unloving, and preference—and Lent as a time for making the loving choices of prayer, sacrifice (fasting), and giving to the needy (almsgiving). In the closing prayer, the catechist-teacher will mark each child’s forehead with the sign of the cross and say, “Make good choices during Lent so you will be ready to celebrate the joy of Easter.”
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
“Choices” by John Burland
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to choose God.
For this lesson, gather scissors, crayons, tape, and a Church Year calendar.
Good News children will begin to fill in a Lenten cross (page 1) with weekly choices they make for how they will become better followers of Jesus during Lent. Catechists-teachers may keep the children’s crosses in the classroom throughout Lent or send them home for the children to display and add to every week.
The children will learn that God gives us choices—free will—because he wants us to say yes to him out of love and trust. They learn the term conscience and pray for help to make good choices—during Lent and always.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
“Choices” by John Burland
Venture
Lesson Theme: Lent calls us to choose.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus chooses not to turn stones to bread, jump off high buildings, or take worldly power. Jesus chose instead to share our humanity and its limitations, even death. He did this to call us to use our own godlike powers—loving others, forgiving one another, sharing what we have, and working to include everyone in our human family. Remind the children of the Lenten commitments they have made. They are not required to fast at this age; however, they can commit to sacrifices, good works, and a promise to improve their prayer practices. Remind them that Lent is a journey: If they fail to keep their commitment one day, encourage them to begin again.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
Sara Salkaházi
Visions
Lesson Theme: Lent calls us to choose.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus chooses not to turn stones to bread, jump off high buildings, or take worldly power. Jesus chose instead to share our humanity and its limitations, even death. He did this to call us to use our own godlike powers—loving others, forgiving one another, sharing what we have, and working to include everyone in our human family. Remind the young people of the Lenten commitments they have made. Most Visions-age students are not required to fast at this age; however, they can commit to sacrifices, good works, and a promise to improve their prayer practices. Remind them that Lent is a journey: If they fail to keep their commitment one day, encourage them to begin again.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Online Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
RCIA
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