Lessons in English
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Focus:
Jesus tells us that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Materials Needed:
- Candle
- Bible
- Maps or GPS
Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration. Here is a video on how to do so: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/04/pop-up-catechesis-creating-a-prayer-space-in-your-home/
Light the candle. Call your family to prayer.
Opening Activity:
Hide an item (or items) really well in your house, so that the children may not come across it accidentally. Tell the children you want them to go look for the item. After a minute of looking, have them come back. Tell them that this time you want them to look for it, but you will give them directions. Guide the children to the item and have them bring it back to your sacred space.
Discuss:
How did you feel when you went the first time to find the item and couldn’t find it?
What did you think you might need to find it?
How did you feel the second time, when you were given directions and found it?
Tell the children that it is harder to find something when we don’t know how to go. That’s why we have maps and GPS. They tell us the way to find a place, just like you told them how to find the object. You may have funny stories to share about times when you have been lost and had to ask for directions or use a map or GPS.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that he will be leaving to prepare a place for his disciples with his Father. Thomas asks Jesus how they will know the way to this place and Jesus tells Thomas that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus will help us to find our way.
Music:
Choose one of the music suggestions below. Sing together as a family.
Make the Sign of the Cross.
Sunday Gospel: John 14:1-12
Together read the Sunday Gospel. Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible. Be creative. Read it in parts. Act out the story. http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051020.cfm
Discussion:
- Discuss the ways in which Jesus has shown us the way to be with the Father someday in heaven. (Jesus taught us to pray – the Lord’s Prayer, which you will pray in a little while, how to love one another, that if we know Jesus we know the Father).
- Where do you see Jesus in our world, showing you the way to heaven?
- How will you help others see “the way?”
- Do you know about Jesus or do you know Jesus as a friend? How do you know Jesus instead of just about Jesus?
Apostles Creed:
Together pray:
I believe in God the Father almighty Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
Music:
Choose another song to sing together.
Universal Prayers:
As a family, offer prayers for our Church, our world, your local communities, and your families.
The Lord’s Prayer
Together pray the words that our Savior gave us:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
Music:
Choose another song to sing together.
Family Activity Suggestions:
- Have fun creating a map showing the ways we go through Jesus to be with God.
- Do a Scripture scavenger hunt. In last Sunday’s Gospel, we heard Jesus say he was the gate. This Sunday he says he is the way, the truth, and the life. Look through John’s Gospel to find the other “I Am” sayings of Jesus. Who else does Jesus say he is? Us the “I Am” statements to create an artwork.
- Keep in mind that it is still the Easter season and we continue to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection. Spend some time outside planting flowers. Or if you are not a gardener, take another family walk to find signs of new life. Spring has sprung and there are signs of new life everywhere. Have a repeat of your Easter dinner.
Music Suggestions:
Morning Has Broken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlbmNAcoRww
Psalm 33: Lord, Let Your Mercy Be On Us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG55hAbxHYU
Come to the Water/I Will Run
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5047C0Lulc
Come to the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP0IBnpwfMg
Your Grace is Enough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv38qkeVKvQ
We Walk By Faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icsXi-tqFlY
Other Web Resources:
Loyola Press:
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) (official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International):
https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy
Catholic Mom:
http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/
USCCB:
https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/easter-5.pdf
Strong Catholic Faith:
http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/easter-season-resources.html
Pop-Up Catechesis:
https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/tag/pop-up-catechesis/
