April

This is a weekly reflection on the Scripture with activities and discussion topics for families. Encourage families to use these materials online or you can print, copy and distribute them.

March 2013
Third Sunday of Lent
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Passion of Our Lord
Easter Sunday

April 2013
Second Sunday of Easter
Third Sunday of Easter
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 2013
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Solemnity of the Ascension
Pentecost Sunday
Most Holy Trinity

June 2013
Body and Blood of Christ

Primary Session

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
God our Maker,
You have made us in your image and we are your children.
Help us to treat one another as members of your family.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Opening Life Reflection

To help the children understand the concept that God loves all people equally, begin the session with a game of musical chairs. When there are only a few people left in the chairs, end the game. Discuss:

• How did it feel to loose your chair?

• How did it feel to be one of the winners?

• Have you ever felt left out at school or at home?

We are all winners because God loves us and we belong to God’s family. Jesus did not want anyone to feel left out. He tried hard to let children and adults know that they are precious to God.

Listening to the Word of God

In today’s gospel Jesus tells his disciples that other people can use his name to do good.
Read Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters

• What did the disciples see?

• Why did they want to stop someone from using Jesus’ name to help a person in need?

• Does Jesus want the person who is helping to stop?

• What does he tell his disciples?

Scripture Background

Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel using the Catechist Background section.

In the gospel today Jesus tells his disciples that they should let other people use his name to do good works. The disciples wanted to tell the person who was casting out demons to stop. But Jesus let his friends know that they do not belong to a special group that leaves people out. If other people are doing good works and helping people in need, then they can call on the name of Jesus.

Today’s reading also points out that we can make choices that turn us away from God. Jesus talks about getting rid of what makes us sin. Jesus does not want us to hurt ourselves. Instead he wants us to use our hands, legs and mouth to do good things. When we make choices that hurt other people or ourselves then we turn away from God. Jesus teaches us to make caring choices.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

Jesus does not want to turn anyone away.

• How can you help people to know that Jesus loves them?

• How can you make caring choices at home, in school or with your friends?

(If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.)

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Catholic Social Teaching

Catholics believe that God has created all people in the image of holiness. Out of love, God made each person. Every child is precious in God’s eyes.

All of creation is a wonderful gift from God. When we see the beauty that is in the world around us, we see how much God loves us.

God made each person with special talents. Over time we discover how to use our talents to help care for others. God wants us to work together to make the world a better place to live.

God did not make us alone. We were made to live together as members of God’s family. We may look different or speak differently from one another, but we are still brothers and sisters in faith. And God loves us all equally.

• What special talents have you been given to share?

• How can we show our love for God’s family?

The Gospel in Life
Take a walk and look at the beauty of nature. Say a prayer of thanks to God.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 22
Grade 1, chapter 12
Grade 2, chapter 26

Junior High Session
Numbers 11:25-29
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Creator God, You have made us in your own image and likeness.
Help us to accept our value as human beings because
We know all people are loved and valued in your sight.
Help us to treat one another with value and respect.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Opening Life Reflection

Allow time for discussion:

• Have you ever tried out for a particular sport and not made the team? How did it feel?

• Have you ever been chosen to be a member of a team that you tried out for? How did it feel?

• Do groups or cliques exist at your school?

• What is your impression of groups or cliques?

Summarize with the idea that it is important to feel as if we belong and it hurts to be rejected. Yet throughout our lives we witness people being divided into groups. Jesus had a very hard time with elitism. He did not want his disciples to be concerned with who fit in and who didn’t. God created all human beings with equal dignity and value. Jesus worked hard to make all people feel welcome and accepted.

Listening to the Word of God

In the Old Testament we hear that the Spirit of God is given according to God’s will.
Read Numbers 11:25-29.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters

• What were the elders given by God?

• Why did Moses’ assistant want to stop them from doing God’s work?

• How did Moses respond?

• Why did Moses ask his assistant if he was jealous?

In today’s gospel Jesus keeps his disciples from putting a stop to other followers who are using Jesus’ name to do good works.

Read Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48.
Allow for silence.

• What did John tell Jesus that he saw?

• Why did the disciples want to stop the person who was doing good works?

• Why didn’t Jesus want the person stopped?

• How does Jesus warn his disciples against sin in this reading?

Scripture Background

Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the readings using the Catechist Background section.

In today’s Old Testament reading the Spirit of God rests wherever God wills. We get the impression that God’s grace is not earned but freely given. In this reading we hear that God places the Spirit on seventy elders. When the Spirit was placed upon them they prophesied. God knew that Moses alone could not meet all the needs of the Israelite people. In order to help Moses, God shares the Spirit with others. But Moses’ assistant Joshua is concerned about other people receiving the gifts of the spirit outside of the people who were present when they were originally given. Moses has a more generous view. He responds to Joshua by assuring him of how great it would be if the Spirit of God were to rest upon all the people of the Lord. This passage makes clear that God’s grace can never be completely limited or subject to control.

In the gospel today Jesus does not tolerate the formation of an elite group of followers who exclude others. We hear that John is concerned about a person who is not part of the original group of followers because he is casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Jesus forcefully lets his disciple know that the person who is doing good works in Jesus’ name should not be stopped. It is clear that Jesus accepts anyone who helps the disciples in the course of fulfilling their mission.

Sin can cut us off from God. In the gospel we hear that whatever causes us to sin should be eliminated. The point made here is that there is nothing worse than being cut off from our creator due to sin. Jesus is not advocating self-mutilation, but he uses harsh examples to make the point that sin separates us from God.

Questions for Deeper Reflection 

• Do you know of any groups that exclude people?

• What message does Jesus give us today about forming groups that leave certain people out?

• We hear about a hand, foot and eye in this reading. What gets in the way of your relationship with God?

(If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.)

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholics believe that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we are to treat people with dignity and respect. That goes for us as well. Each of us has been created as a beloved child of God and therefore we should value ourselves—mind, body and soul. Because every person is created equal in the sight of God, we ought to view all people as equal in worth and value.

The vision of social justice for Catholics includes the value of human work. We believe that as people created in God’s image, we go on with God to finish the work of creation by helping to provide for human needs. We believe that the ability to work should be available to everyone. This includes men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. Society should assist individuals in finding work without discrimination.

Catholic Social Teaching makes clear that we are not created alone but together. We are a community and by working together the people of God help to make God’s presence known throughout the world.

• Do you feel that all people are treated equally in your school and community?

• Where does discrimination exist in our society?

• What can you do to break down the barriers of discrimination?

• How can you be more accepting of people’s differences?

The Gospel in Life

This week, make it a point to welcome someone who is feeling left out.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 22
Junior High, Jesus in the New Testament, chapter 4
Junior High, Liturgy and Morality, chapter 22

Intermediate Session
Numbers 11:25-29
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
God our Creator, out of love you have made us in your image.
And you have made all people equal and precious in your sight.
Help us to treat one another with care and respect.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Opening Life Reflection

Begin with a role-play exercise. Ask for approximately six volunteers to help act out a scene in which a group or clique is shown to make other children feel left out. Give the children time to come up with a skit. After the performance discuss the following:

• How do you think it felt to belong to the group?
• How do you think it felt to be rejected by the group?
• Do groups or cliques like this exist at your school?
• What can you do to help people fit in?

Allow time for discussion. Jesus did want people to feel left out or unwelcome. He worked very hard to show acceptance and love toward everyone.

Listening to the Word of God

In the Old Testament reading the gift of God’s Spirit is given freely.
Read Numbers 11:25-29.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters

• What did God give to the elders?
• Why did Moses’ assistant want to stop them from doing God’s work?
• Did Moses want to stop them?
• Why did Moses ask his assistant if he was jealous?

In the gospel reading Jesus does not put a stop to people doing good works in his name.
Read Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48.
Allow for silence.

• What did John and the other disciples see?
• Why did they want to stop the person who was doing good works?
• Why does Jesus tell his disciples not to stop anyone from using his name to do good works?
• How does Jesus warn his disciples against sin?
• What did Jesus mean by saying cut off what ever makes a person to sin?

Scripture Background

Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the readings using the Catechist Background section.

In the reading from the Old Testament we see how the Spirit of God is given wherever God wills. The gift of God’s Spirit is not given because people earn it through good behavior. The Spirit is given simply because that is what God wants to do. In today’s reading the Spirit of God is placed upon seventy elders who then go around speaking about God and heavenly things. This concerns Joshua who is Moses’ assistant. Joshua does not want other people to receive God’s gifts because they were not there when the spirit of God was first given. Moses does not agree with his assistant. Moses says that it would be great for the Spirit of God to rest upon all the people of the Lord.

In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples that they should not keep other people from using his name to do good works. Jesus did not want his friends to think that they were part of a special group that left other people out. In the gospel reading we hear that John is concerned about someone who is using Jesus’ name to cast out demons. Jesus makes it clear that anyone who does good works in his name should not be stopped.

Today’s gospel also describes the seriousness of making choices that turn us away from God. When we make choices that hurt other people, or ourselves we damage our relationship with God. In the gospel reading Jesus talks about cutting off those things that make us sin. He does this to get our attention because Jesus wants us to know that there is nothing worse than sin because it keeps us from God.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

• Have you ever wanted someone out of your way because you were jealous?
• How do today’s readings show that it is not a good idea to form groups that leave others out?
• What can you do to help make the people that you come into contact with feel accepted and welcome?

(If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.)

Doctrinal Discussion Starters

Catholic Social Teaching
Catholics believe that all people are created in God’s image and likeness. Out of love God created us as unique individuals. We are precious in God’s sight. As children of God, we are to view all people as brothers and sisters. God created all people equal and we are to treat one another as equals and with respect.

Catholics also value work. People have been given talents by God to help create a better world. Everyone should have the opportunity to work. This includes men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. We should not do anything to keep people from getting work. Catholic social teaching makes it clear that we were not created alone but together. Together we make up the family of God. As part of God’s family we work together to make God’s love known throughout the world.

• Are there some people who are treated unfairly because of their physical appearance? Explain.
• What can you do to stand up for those whom are treated badly?
• Do you accept and welcome people who are different from you?

The Gospel in Life
At school this week, find someone who does not have any friends to sit with during lunch and invite them to sit with you.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 22
Grade 5, chapter 23

Catechist Background and Preparation

To prepare for the session, read all the readings:
Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Spend a few minutes reflecting on what these readings mean for you today. Was there a particular reading which appealed to you? Was there a word or image that engaged you?

Read the Word in Liturgy and Catholic Doctrine sections. These give you background on what you will be doing this session. Read over the session outline and make it your own. Check to see what materials you will need for the session.

The Word in Liturgy

Because Moses alone was not able to meet all the needs of the Israelite community, God decides that the charismatic gifts of Moses, including prophecy, should be shared with others. But Moses and Joshua, his trusted assistant, disagree on whether these gifts are legitimate in those who were not present when the gifts were originally bestowed. The generous view of Moses prevails. “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets,” he says. Why does Numbers preserve this minor episode? Later controversies no doubt made its lasting relevance evident, as the charism of prophecy was increasingly institutionalized in the community. A prophetic class developed, and the emergence of false prophets made it necessary to test and establish the credibility of true prophets. Nevertheless, this passage attests to the essential freedom of the God whose gifts can never be completely limited or subject to institutional control, and will emerge as God wills.

Today’s gospel passage is a series of four sayings. The sayings contain quite diverse thematic material. The saying discussed above, concerning exorcists (1), is followed by the promise of a reward for those who help the disciples in the course of fulfilling their mission (2). Next we see that to cause another to sin, especially someone powerless and innocent, is especially abhorrent and earns divine retribution (3). Drowning was a Roman punishment, and would have been considered barbaric by a Jewish audience, thus emphasizing the severity of the crime. The final saying (4) treats the great depth of fear one should have toward even the possibility of being cut off from God by sin. Jesus is not advocating self-mutilation. Rather, he is using a vivid Semitic style of extreme contrasts to make his point: there is nothing worse than sin. Sin is at all costs to be avoided.

The horror of the final component of the gospel passage echoes the severe condemnation of economic injustice found in the epistle reading. In the end times, a harsh judgment awaits those who defraud the poor. The passing nature of material goods reveals the ugliness of sins committed to obtain and hoard wealth.

Catholic Doctrine
Catholic Social Teaching

Concrete teachings arise from our Catholic vision of social justice and range over many issues. Human work, for example, results from God in whose image we are created and who bids us to finish the work of creation, collaborating with God to provide for human needs. Therefore, work is a duty and honors the gifts and talents bestowed upon us by our creator. Jesus himself worked as a carpenter. Catholics thus believe work potentially can be a means of sanctification and animating earthly realities with the Spirit of Christ.

We believe that access to employment and to professions must be available and open to everyone without discrimination. This includes both men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. Society should assist individuals to find work and employment.

Any particular issue or problem of modern life that is addressed by Catholic social teaching returns to the fundamental notion that we are not created alone but together. Our Catholic vision of social justice insists that human beings are a community and that—with the help of God’s grace—our social, economic, religious, family, and cultural spheres will more and more reflect that reality.

Primary Session

Mark 9:30-37

Opening Prayer

Let us pray.
God our helper,
You give us your help when we are in need,
and you show us how to help others through the example of your son Jesus.
Thank you for showing us how to live.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.

Opening Life Reflection

Begin the session by inviting the children to reflect on the many ways that people can be of service to others. Bring in a variety of magazines and ask the children to cut out as many pictures of people serving others as they can find. Glue the pictures on a large sheet of paper or poster board. Discuss:

• What are the people in the pictures doing?
• Who are the people that you know who serve others?

Jesus lived his life in the service of others. He cared for those who were poor and sick and lost. Jesus wants us to do the same.

Listening to the Word of God

Listen to the gospel today to hear what Jesus tells us we must do in order to be great.
Read Mark 9:30-37.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters

• What does Jesus try to explain to his disciples?
• What do the disciples argue about?
• What does Jesus say to them?

Scripture Background

Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel using the Catechist Background section.

In the gospel reading Jesus tries to tell his disciples that he is going to suffer and die. His disciples do not want to hear such terrible news. They do not understand what Jesus is trying to tell them.

We hear that the disciples have an argument about which one of them is the greatest. Jesus asks them what they are arguing about, but his disciples do not give him an answer. Jesus knows that they are talking about greatness and he teaches them that serving others is the only true form of greatness. Jesus tells his disciples that if they want to be first, they must be last. He was making the point that if anyone wants to be great they need to serve others.

In today’s gospel Jesus welcomes a small child in his arms. Jesus wants his disciples to know that when they care for such a child they care for him.

Jesus wants us to care for one another and serve those in need.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

• Have you ever wanted to be first at something?
• What does Jesus say is more important than being first?
• When you help someone in need do you think that you are helping Jesus? Explain.

(If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.)

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
The Call to Service

In the gospels we see how Jesus cares for the needs of others. Throughout his entire life Jesus served people. He wanted his followers to do the same. Jesus shows us how important it is to care for one another.

Catholic Christians are baptized into a life of service. We share in the work of Jesus by feeding the hungry, helping the poor and caring for the sick. When we do these things for other people we are helping Jesus. A sign of true greatness is the ability to take the time to help someone in need.

Together, Catholic Christians can make a big difference in the world. Imagine all God’s people working for peace. Let’s begin today!

• What are some things that you can do to follow Jesus’ example?
• How can you be a peacemaker at home, at school, or with friends?

The Gospel in Life

Help with some work around your house this week without being asked.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition

At Home Family Guide, theme 23
Grade 1, chapter 16
Grade 3, chapter 14