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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.
Here are some notes to help you prepare for this week’s lesson:
Lesson Theme: Jesus prays to make good choices.
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.
Lesson Theme: Jesus makes good choices.
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 identify the season of 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.”
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to choose God.
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.
Lesson Theme: Lent calls us to choose.
Venture children will apply what they learn about free will and choices in the Sunday readings—Adam and Eve in the garden and Jesus in the desert.
The cover activity gives the children the opportunity to choose Lenten actions that will draw them closer to God throughout these forty days. This is a long time for children. Make sure to revisit these choices and remind the children of their commitments each week during Lent.
Lesson Theme: Lent calls us to choose.
Visions students can understand Lent as a journey, a time to grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and good works. Ask the young people to consider where they are now and think about where they would like to be in their relationship with God.
This lesson offers several opportunities for the young people to choose ways they will meet these Lenten commitments—in the cover activity, the faith quiz, and the prayer service. Help your students take responsibility for keeping track of making and keeping these commitments, including sharing the Church’s rules about fasting and abstinence.
DON’T FORGET: Check out our Unit Overview Webinars for Unit 3. You can find them in both English and Spanish here.
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