Sun, April 4th (Easter Sunday)
Mk 16: 1-8
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag’dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo’me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee: there you will see him, as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid.
- What did you hear?
- I wonder who rolled the stone back?
- I wonder who the “young man” dressed in a white robe was?
- He said, “Do not be amazed”. Would you be amazed?
- They fled the tomb because they were afraid, what do you think you would do?
- We know and understand that Jesus rose from the dead to save us from our sins.
- Is there anything you would like to say? Some may say Thank You; Maybe there is a prayer of Thanksgiving
- He is risen! Alleluia, Alleluia!
Dear Parents,
During this time of Easter we will once again meditate on the life and ministry of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, who’s image of Jesus is merciful and compassionate with a special concern for the poor, women and non-Jews.
In this Gospel, we begin with the first Joyful mystery of the Rosary; the Annunciation and is followed by the second Joyful mystery; the Visitation.
During our time in the Gospel of Luke, you may find more than one verse for the day, in case your children are enjoying the story and want you to continue.
Monday, April 5th
Lk 1:26-38
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I do not know man?” And the angel said to her, “The Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Lk 1:26-38)
- What did you hear?
- Who visited Mary?
- What did the angel tell her?
- What did Mary say?
- Do you know this word “handmaid”?
- It means “servant”
- I wonder what Mary thought? Felt?
Lk 1:39-44
“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari’ah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” (Lk 1:39-44)
- I wonder why Mary took that long journey to visit Elizabeth?
- I wonder how Elizabeth knew that Mary was the mother of God?
- Who do you think told Elizabeth?
- Holy Spirit
- Do you think we could hear the Holy Spirit?
Tuesday, April 6th
Lk 2: 1-7
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’ius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Lk 2: 1-7)
- What did you hear?
- What city did Mary and Joseph go to?
- Bethlehem
- What did Mary lay Jesus in?
- A manger (that animals ate from)
- If you had been there that day, would you want to hold baby Jesus?
Lk 2: 8-14
“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” (Lk 2: 8-14)
- What did you hear?
- What was the “good news of great joy”?
- I wonder what a “heavenly host” is?
- A host of angels is an army of angels
Wednesday, April 7th
Lk 3: 21-22
“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk 3:21-22)
- I wonder whose voice came from heaven?
- I wonder what all the people who were there thought when they heard the voice?
- Who is the “beloved Son”?
- I wonder how God can be “well pleased” with us?
Thursday, April 8th
Lk 4: 42-44
“And when it was day he [Jesus] departed and went into a lonely place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them; but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
(Lk 4: 42-44)
- I wonder why Jesus went to a lonely place?
- Jesus often went to a lonely or deserted place to pray.
- Why do you think the people wanted to keep Jesus from leaving them?
- I wonder what kind of “Good News” Jesus wanted to tell the other cities?
Friday, April 9th
Lk 5: 12-16
“While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.” (Lk 5: 12-16)
- What did you hear?
- What did the man with leprosy want Jesus to do for him?
- What happened?
- I wonder how the man felt after his skin was made clean (new)?
- I wonder what the man said to Jesus after he was healed?
Saturday, April 10th
Lk 6: 12-16
“In these days he [Jesus] went out to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, who he named apostles; Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphae’us, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” (Lk 6: 12-16)
- I wonder why Jesus prayed so long?
- This must have been an important decision!
- I wonder how the disciples felt about being chosen to be apostles?
Lk 6: 37-38
Jesus said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into you lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Lk 6: 37-38)
- I wonder what Jesus was trying to tell the people?
- Younger (and older) children can relate this to the Golden Rule.
- Who can we forgive?
- How can we give? Who would we give to?
- How would this make you feel