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We are beginning the second week of our Lenten journey for this year. The hope-filled readings for the Second Sunday of Lent remind us of God’s immense love for us. The First Reading tells the story of God’s promise to Abram to give him numerous offspring. As we know, Abram and his wife Sarai were old and could not have children. Out of this hopeless situation, God brought an entire people, his People. Listening to this marvelous deed and wondering what God can bring out of my own despair, my heart wants to sing out loud this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear.” Then, Saint Paul reminds the Philippians, and us, that we don’t belong to this world, which gives us so much anguish. As followers of Christ, we are citizens of Heaven, and one day, we will participate in Jesus’ glory. We are talking about the same glory that Peter, John, and James witnessed for a moment during Jesus Transfiguration! How could we be afraid?
Let’s “wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted and wait for the Lord.” He knows our pain and has great things in store for us.
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 many online resources.
Videos of the Sunday Gospel (Luke (9:28b–36)
Use these videos as you discuss the Sunday Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
Holy Heroes
Gospel Readings for Kids
The Story of the Transfiguration with Lego
St. Patrick
St. Joseph
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is God’s Son.
For this lesson you will need scissors, crayons, a Church Year calendar, and the story coloring page for “Jacob Belongs to the Church” (one per child). We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
This Seeds lesson focuses on prayer as a way to strengthen the children’s awareness that God is close to them. Emphasize that we can pray anywhere and anytime and that there are many ways of praying. We can say memorized prayers, like the Lord’s Prayer, or we can make up our own prayers. The important thing is that the children recognize that they can talk to God always.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Video and Saint of the Week
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Promise
Lesson Theme: God wants us to listen to Jesus.
Materials you’ll need for this less are scissors, a hole punch, yarn, pencils, crayons, construction paper, a Church Year calendar, and the story coloring page for “Liam Learns to Listen” (one per child). You may also wish to engage an aide or aides to assist with the My Prayer Pocket activity. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
Listening is an important part of this lesson as it goes with the lesson theme of listening to Jesus. You may wish to note this at the beginning of your class session to encourage good listening. Reinforce this behavior by noting who is being a good listener as the lesson progresses.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
Weekly Gospel Video and Saint of the Week
Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: We listen to Jesus.
For this lesson, you will need a world map or globe, large art paper (eight pieces) , small pieces of paper (eight per pair of children), crayons, pencils, magazines, glue, scissors, a Church Year calendar, and a Bible.
God’s message for us in the Gospel is that we should listen to Jesus. This lesson emphasizes ways the children can listen to Jesus with special emphasis on prayer. The concept that prayer involves listening as well as talking may be new to the children. As you lead the children in prayer and talk about prayer throughout the lesson, encourage the children to consider ways Jesus speaks to them and how they can open their ears and hearts to what Jesus has to say.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus’ followers glimpse his glory.
In this lesson, the students begin a three-week map study to follow the journeys of people from the Old Testament. This week, it’s Abraham. The map study is paired with a Scripture study of major events from the lives of Abraham and his wife Sarah.
This Sunday’s Gospel is the Transfiguration. Spend time connecting the idea of change with the children. Ask: How do we change during Lent?
Make sure the children have Bibles for the page 5 and page 8 activities. A world map is optional but can be used to show modern locations of locations noted in the Bible.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
God’s Story: Abraham and Sarah
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus shows he is Son and prophet.
This Sunday’s Gospel is the Transfiguration. This is a story of change, in which we see Jesus as a Divine Person—the Son of God. Ask the young people why they think it is an appropriate Gospel for the Lenten season. We can make positive changes that draw us toward God at any time of year; however, the Scriptures we read during Lent especially encourage us.
Give the young people time to review their lives, make commitments to change, and identify the steps to keep them. Before class, prepare a sample of the Lenten prayer journal on pages 7–8. In class, make sure to review the student responses on page 8 together before directing the young people to fold their journals. Direct the young people to cut out and post their Lenten commitments on page 5 once you have prayed the Psalms prayer service on page 6.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
A ‘New Day’ for students in eastern Congo
Image credit: Christin Lola/Shutterstock.com
