by Joe on February 19, 2010
Here is an outline from the Sunday Connection for reflecting on this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 4:1-13, Jesus’ Temptation) with intermediate age kids (grades 4, 5, 6).
Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)
Older children are learning to distinguish between the things they need and the things they want. We can help them to resist negative temptations by teaching them to distinguish between needs and wants.
Materials Needed (Grades 4, 5, and 6)
- Poster with two columns: title one column “Things We Need” and the second column “Things We Want”
- Magazines or catalogues
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings (Grades 4, 5, and 6)
- Say: It is easy for us to confuse our needs and our wants. Many of the things we need are provided to us so readily that we seldom think about these things; we take them for granted. We sometimes wish for more than we need and are easily tempted to confuse things we want for things we need.
- Prepare a poster with two columns. Title one column “Things We Need” and the second column “Things We Want.” Tell the children to identify two or three things that they would place in each column. Distribute magazines and catalogues, scissors, and glue. Suggest that the children might find an image to represent each of these things in the magazines or catalogues. Tell them to cut out and place these images in the appropriate column of the poster. If necessary, allow them to write a single word describing what each cutout picture represents. Display the finished poster.
- Introduce today’s Gospel. Say: On the first Sunday of Lent, we hear about how Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert. One way to think about the temptations described in this Gospel is to describe them as temptations to want more than we need. Let’s listen carefully to this reading and think about how the devil tempted Jesus and how Jesus responded.
- Ask a volunteer to read aloud this Gospel, Luke 4:1-13.
- Ask: What were the three things that the devil tempted Jesus to do? What did the devil say that Jesus would show or receive if he gave in to each temptation? (turn stone to bread to prove he was the Son of God; worship the devil and so receive power and glory; jump off a high place to test God) Did Jesus need to show or receive any of the things the devil proposed? (no)
- Say: Jesus didn’t need to prove that he was the Son of God, he didn’t need power and glory, and he didn’t need to test God. Jesus knew that God would give him all he really needed. Jesus wants us to know this, too. During Lent we can practice resisting the temptation to think that we need more than we have been given. Our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving help us to correct our perceptions about the things we “need” and the things we “want.” They remind us of our dependence on God and they help us to remember that God gives us everything we need.
- Say: When Jesus rebuked the devil he quoted Scripture. Each of these Scripture quotations was about having trust in God. Is there a word or phrase that you can use to remind yourself to trust God in all things? Invite the children to identify a word or phrase that will help them remember to trust God to give them everything that they need. Suggest that they use this word or phrase as a prayer during Lent.
- Conclude in prayer. Say: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for God’s help to resist temptation in our lives. We say, “Lead us not into temptation.” Let’s pray this prayer together remembering that God gives us everything we really need. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.
The Sunday Connection has outlines like this one for every Sunday of the Liturgical year for primary, intermediate, and junior high as well as for families.
Don’t forget my 40 Ideas for 40 Days as well as my Lent FAQ video!
Have a great weekend!
by Joe on February 18, 2010
I hope your Lent is off to a good start. Remember, Lent is not easy but it’s not a downer. Why else would the Sacramentary refer to Lent as “this joyful season?” (First Preface for Lent) Renewal is good…but it takes hard work.
As we move forward into Lent, I want to remind you that I am willing to be your Lenten partner (I offered this on my webinar). In other words, you are welcome to send an email to me once a week telling me about your progress (or lack thereof) practicing the Lenten disciplines. Sharing with another person is a powerful way of keeping your focus (it’s the same wisdom that leads people in Twelve Step programs to have a sponsor with whom they regularlykeep in touch…and let’s face, it: sin is an addiction). Your email will be confidential (in other words, don’t worry, it won’t end up here on my blog!!!) and I will respond with general words of encouragement. You can email me at joe@catechistsjourney.com.
On another note, my 40 Ideas for 40 Days is getting lots of attention! The good folks over at Catechist Magazine are linking to my 40 Ideas on their Facebook page. Check it out.
Don’t forget that I write a monthly feature for Catechist Magazine called What’s Your Catholic IQ? The folks there have begun a monthly “What’s Your Catholic IQ Contest” that you may want to look into.
Finally, on a totally unrelated note, today is my Dad’s birthday. Dad would have been 89 today. We all miss him but continue to be blessed by the love that he shared with us and continues to share with us through the Communion of Saints. Na Zdrowie, Dad!
by Joe on February 17, 2010
I couldn’t resist offering one more Lenten calendar for you! This one comes to us courtesy of my Loyola Press colleague Linnette Mathys who thought it would be a good idea to arrange my 40 Ideas for 40 Days into a calendar! Thanks, Linnette…this is very cool! I’m very lucky and blessed to be surrounded by so many talented and creative people whose work ends up somehow making ME look good!
Click here for an interactive pdf calendar of 40 Ideas for 40 Days!
Happy Ash Wednesday everyone! I hope your Lent is off to a good start!
by Joe on February 16, 2010
Loving Father, your Son, Jesus, was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. There, he learned to rely on you and not on bread alone.
May the same Holy Spirit guide me as I enter into this experience of fasting.
May this fast remind me of my complete dependence on you and your grace.
May it unite me in solidarity with those who suffer from hunger each and every day and lead me to share what I have with others.
May each grumble of my stomach be a sacramental for me – a reminder of my hunger for you and of how you satisfy that hunger.
May the discipline of fasting help me to grow in patience, humility, generosity, and compassion.
On this day, I offer my fast for the intention of ___________________________________________.
Be with me now, as I walk away from this meal and, when the time is right, guide me back to this table in good health of mind, body, and spirit, and with increased gratitude for your abundant blessings.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Joe Paprocki, DMin)
by Joe on February 16, 2010
Just in the nick of time, I have tracked down my friend Victor V. who provided us with a Lenten Calendar last year for the 40 Ideas for 40 Days feature, and he has been gracious enough to quickly update the calendar for 2010 and share it with us…thanks, Victor! So here’s the link to that:
MY LENTEN CALENDAR 2010
Also, I received another Lenten Calendar from Nancy P. who says that this one is similar to Victor’s but that this one provides a specific suggestion for each day. Here’s the link to Nancy’s calendar (which she credits to a web site from an organization named Florida Cener for Peace):
Lenten Calendar
Here’s how she plans to use it:
What I’m planning to do with my students is to have them paste it on a purple construction paper (large size). I will modify part of your friend’s instructions and it will be as follows:
This Lent I will show my love for Jesus by doing these good deeds for Him each day. Before I go to bed I will color the cross of the day as follows:
Purple – I did it even though it was hard for me to do.
Yellow – I did it and I said an extra prayer while doing it.
Red – I did it and didn’t mention it to anybody.
Thanks to Victor and Nancy for sharing their calendars with us!
Here is an outline from the Sunday Connection for reflecting on this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 4:1-13, Jesus’ Temptation) with intermediate age kids (grades 4, 5, 6).
