Quote from Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (no. 21):
"The Church has always held the divine scriptures in reverence
no less than it accords to the Lord's body itself,
never ceasing--especially in the sacred liturgy--to receive the bread of life
from the one table of God's word and Christ's body,
and to offer it to the faithful."

Following are ideas for art or craft projects to enhance enjoyment of the Readings.
Using their hands to work with the Scriptures in art projects
prepares children to "work" with the Scriptures in their hearts as they mature.
Displayed art keeps the Scripture in view and in mind.

Included, too, are additional comments and thoughts about the Readings.

    Anna from Hawaii emailed with the excellent suggestion that I include the formal steps taken by those who are coming into the Church on Easter Vigil.  Here goes … catechumens are preparing for baptism; in some parishes they hear the Readings but are dismissed before the Eucharistic Prayer as was the practice in the early church.  All preparing to join the Church are called the Elect, which means called; the elect are called by God.  On the first Sunday of Lent their names are enrolled/written in a special book. On the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent, the elect have special prayers called the Scrutanies prayed for them; these prayers ask for the grace to live fully as followers of    Jesus.  Easter Vigil, the elect become full members of the Church.
    Anna, did I go OK?  Thank you for the info you sent.  I wanted to keep it simple for young people.
All, keep your ideas coming, and God bless your ministries!

Open Wednesday … Fourth Sunday of Lent, C

1.  The Fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday when we rejoice that Lent is half-completed.  Laetare comes from the Latin word for rejoice.  Use the occasion of Laetare Sunday to consider your journey through the first half of Lent and to map out--so to speak--the remaining weeks of Lent. 

     Make sure you know when the Communal Penance Service will be in your parish and plan to attend.  Sunday the priest may wear rose colored vestments.  If your parish does not have rose vestments, then whoever decorates the Sanctuary perhaps will have added a touch of pink.  To prepare to celebrate Laetare Sunday, find occasions during the week to rejoice by bringing joy to others.  Do something special for yourself, too.
     Our pastor says he does not look good in "pink."  So to help him out, we all wear a rose color   :)  I must say, it puts us in a rejoicing mood!

  1. To focus on the rejoicing of Laetare Sunday, picture the spelling rejoicing as
re-joy-sing.  See the psalm on the picture page.  Memorize, "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with re-joy-sing!  The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed!   Ps 126:2,3"  List some of the great things the Lord has done for you.

3.  Review the story of the first Passover (Gn 12) which leads into the First Reading and is also preparatory for Holy Thursday. For some students you may have to recount how the Hebrews came to Egypt and their difficulties while there.  As a preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, relate the escape of Hebrews from slavery to the redemptive Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross: now we no longer have to live in slavery to sin but rather, we may live in the freedom of God's love.  Remind students of the sacrifice of the unblemished lamb (Gn 12) and how its blood smeared on the doorposts and lintels saved the Hebrews.   Thus, Jesus is called "the Lamb of God." 
     Note, too that doorposts are vertical and the lintel is horizontal … suggestive of the Cross.

4.  How did manna appear and what was its taste?  For a description of manna, read 
Nb 11:7-9 and Wis 16:20; verse 21 reminds me of Paul saying he has become all things to all people so as to save at least a few (I Cor 9:22).

5.  The First Reading occurs just prior to the
Hebrews taking Jericho.  Some students may be interested in the archaeological excavations of Jericho such as this circular stone tower dating to 7000 B.C. ( Joshua took Jericho during the 13th c. B.C.  There are no remains archaeologists can say that date to the time of Joshua.)  A tell is a mound consisting of layers of buildings and rubble from successive generations.  The tell of Jericho is a mine of artifacts and information for archaeologists.  Jericho has a spring which attracted peoples to settle there.  The picture is from The Reader's Digest Atlas of the Bible, p 75.

6.  I like the idea in the Second Reading that we are ambassadors for Christ.  Discuss with students the role of an ambassador.   Perhaps you have heard the expression, "You may be the only Bible someone may ever read."  Focus on being an ambassador for Christ!

7.  To prepare to hear the Gospel, write, telephone and/or do something special,
specifically for your father, or generally for your parent, mentor or father figure.  Say a prayer for your parent.

8.  The Prodigal Son, an engraving from John Everett Millais' Illustrated Edition of the Parables of Our Lord (Dover Publications).  This picture helps me to think of the Father's love.       

      The story of The Prodigal Son is appropriate for Laetare Sunday because of the joy the father experiences for his son.   
     By virtue of our natural birth and our baptismal birth we have received much.
Don't waste inherited riches.  Use well the gifts of time and or freedom of choice.  Don't squander these gifts.

9.  Note that the parable ends with the
father telling the elder son to slaughter the fatted calf, but we do not hear how the elder son responded.  How do you

think the elder son responded?  How would you have responded if you were the elder sibling?  Sometimes it can be very hard to forgive.

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E-mail me your ideas!   
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