Sun, Mar 28th (Palm Sunday)
Dear Parents, We will break off from the scheduled readings for a moment to follow the events of Jesus’ life during this week, beginning with Palm Sunday (today) and culminating in the resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday. Have a Blessed Holy Week and Easter!
Mk 11: 1-9
“And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Beth’phage and Beth’any, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a cold tied, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it. If any one says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need ot it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away, and found a cold tied at the door out in the open street; and they untied it. And those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said; and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it. And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mk 11: 1-9)
- What did you hear?
- Did everything happen as Jesus said it would?
- I wonder why people spread their garments and leafy branches on the road for Jesus to ride over?
- Do you know this word “Hosanna”? A shout of praise or adoration.
- I wonder why they shouted this as Jesus rode into Jerusalem?
Mon, Mar 29th
Mk 9: 33-35
“And they came to Caper’na-um; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the Twelve and he said to them, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mk 9:33-35)
- I wonder why they were silent?
- How can we be first if we are last and a servant of all? By helping others; by “loving our neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39)
- Who is our model for this? Jesus
Tues, Mar 30th
Mk 10: 13-16
“And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.” (Mk 10: 13-16)
- Do you know this word “indignant”? Annoyed or mad
- I wonder what it means to receive the kingdom of God like a child? With joy; total trust in the Lord as a child for their parents; realizing we are powerless as a child and God is all powerful.
Wed, Mar 31st
Mk 14: 12-16
“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the householder, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.” (Mk 14: 12-16)
- What did you hear?
- Where did Jesus tell his disciples to go?
- Who would they meet?
- What happened when the disciples went?
- I’m amazed, are you?
Thurs, April 1st (Holy Thursday)
Mk 14: 17, 22-24
“And when it was evening he came with the Twelve. And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a chalice, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they al drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mk 14: 17, 22-24)
- What did you hear?
- I wonder what Jesus could have meant when he said the words, “Take; this is my body” and “This is my blood of the covenant”?
- Have you heard these words before? At Mass
- Who were the very first to hear them? Apostles, Jesus’ closest friends.
- I wonder how many people have heard and come to believe those words since then?
Fri, April 2nd (Good Friday)
Dear Parents, This is a hard passage for children, especially those younger than 7. It is not recommended to read this story to small children or to dwell on Jesus’ death for the younger children. Rather than read this passage with young children, one could simply say, “And Jesus died (and immediately follow up with) and rose again”. They will joyfully receive the story of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Mk 15: 20b, 22, 24-27, 33-34, 37-39
“And they led him out to crucify him. …And they brought him to the place called Gol’gotha (which means place of a skull). …And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decided what each should take. And it was the the third hour, when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And when the sixth hour had come, there was a darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “E’lo-i, Elo-i, la’ma sabachtha’ni?”, which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15: 20b, 22, 24-27, 33-34, 37-39)
- This is hard to hear, isn’t it?
- What do you feel as you hear these words?
- Who was the first to declare Jesus the Son of God?
- Do you know that if you or I were the only ones, Jesus would still have done this?
- Is there anything that you would like to say to Jesus for giving up His life for us?
Sat, April 3rd (Holy Saturday)
Mk 15:42-46
And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathe’a, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he brought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. (Mk 15: 42-46)
- What did you hear?
- I wonder how Joseph felt about Jesus, that he would take such good care of His body?