Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
John 12:20-33
Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Learning to be less self-focused is a natural part of a child’s development process. Younger children are learning how to turn their attention to others and take others’ feelings and needs into consideration. We can support children by teaching them that as Christians, we are called to put others’ needs before our own and that doing so helps us become generous, loving disciples.

Materials Needed

• pictures of young children who have a need; for example, a child who appears upset, a child who has fallen, a child who has dropped his or her books, a child who has broken a toy, a child who is sick
  

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Show children each picture and ask children to talk about what they think is happening in the scene. Invite children to guess what the child in the picture might be feeling or thinking and identify what the child might need. (Accept all reasonable responses.) If children need help, ask them to imagine how they have felt or would feel in a similar situation.
2. Say: As Christians, we are called to think about the needs of others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about the great sacrifice he will make for all of us. He invites us to think of others before ourselves.
3. Read aloud today’s Gospel, John 12:20–33.
4. Say: Jesus knew that he was going to die. But he did not pray for God to save him from death. He knew that God had sent him to save us from sin. Jesus put the needs of the world before his own life. He was willing to die to save us from our sins and offer us eternal life in heaven with God the Father.
5. Say: Jesus calls us to serve others by putting their needs before our own. That means that we think about what others might need and help them, even when it may not be what we want to do. We show our love for Jesus and thank him for his great sacrifice for us by caring for one another.
6. Return to the pictures and remind children of each scenario. For each image, invite children to consider what the child needs and ask them: How would Jesus want us to respond to this child? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
7. Close by praying that Jesus help us be his loving servants. Then pray together the Sign of the Cross. Then invite children to quietly and prayerfully exchange a sign of peace with one another.

Gospel Reading
John 12:20-33
Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

Young people hear the Gospel against the backdrop of many competing cultural messages. In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples the way of service and self-sacrifice, a way that sharply contrasts with contemporary societal messages that too often lead us to ask, “What's in it for me?”

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: There is a question that we sometimes hear people ask, “What’s in it for me?” Have you ever heard someone ask that question, or have you ever asked that question yourself? What are some of the situations in which you have heard this question? What does it mean? (Offer examples if the group is unable to provide examples on their own.)

2. Say: “What’s in it for me?” is a common question in our society. Let's keep this question in mind as we listen to today's Gospel.

3. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today’s Gospel, John 12:20-33.

4. Ask: Having heard this Gospel, what do you think Jesus might say about the question? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

5. Say: “What’s in it for me?” is the wrong question for followers of Jesus. Jesus certainly didn't ask this question as he journeyed to the cross. What does today’s Gospel tell us Jesus was thinking about when he thought about his death on the cross? (his Father, God; all sinners; the entire world) Jesus teaches his disciples that those who want to follow him must serve others, thinking about others’ needs before their own.

6. Say: We are approaching the end of Lent. What might you do between now and Easter to show your willingness to follow Jesus in this way? Allow the group time to think about this quietly.

7. Conclude in prayer together, asking God to help you honor your commitment to follow Jesus by putting others’ needs before your own. Pray together the Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Gospel Reading
John 12:20-33
Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

As the hour of his death drew near, Jesus focused on his purpose and prayed that he would give glory to God by accepting suffering and death for our salvation. When we follow Jesus’ example by putting the needs of others before our own, we also give glory to God.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask the young people to name examples of situations where it is important for people to focus on their purpose at the moment. (Accept all reasonable answers, for example, rescue workers at the scene of an accident, athletes competing at a sporting event, students taking an important exam.)

2. Say: During Lent, we focus more intently on what it means to live faithfully as a follower of Jesus. We are approaching the end of Lent, and this Sunday’s Gospel helps us to understand what it means to follow Jesus all the way to his sacrifice on the cross. As we listen to this Sunday’s Gospel, notice what Jesus tells his disciples about his prayer as the hour of his death draws near.

3. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, John 12:20–33.

4. Ask: What words does Jesus choose not to pray? (“Father, save me from this hour.”) Why? (This hour is the purpose for which he came.) What prayer does Jesus make instead? (“Father, glorify your name.”) What does this tell us about what Jesus was thinking when he thought about his death on the cross? (his Father, God; all sinners; the whole world)

5. Say: This Sunday’s Gospel prepares us to journey with Christ during Holy Week, reminding us that Jesus stayed focused on his purpose and gave glory to God by accepting suffering and death for our salvation. Jesus teaches his disciples and us that those who want to follow him must serve others by thinking about others’ needs before their own. When we do this, we, too, give glory to God.

6. Ask: What might you do between now and Easter to show your willingness to follow Jesus by serving others? Allow the group some time to think about this quietly.

7. Conclude in prayer together, asking God to help you honor your commitment to follow Jesus by putting others’ needs before your own. Pray together the Prayer for Generosity by Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

Gospel Reading
John 12:20-33
Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Family Connection

Family life is often a balancing act in which we prioritize and attend to a variety of competing needs. We learn the value of putting others’ needs ahead of our own. In family life we also learn that when we make personal sacrifices to serve others, we gain so much more than we may have lost.

As you gather as a family, talk about how important it is to your family life to gladly serve one another. Ask each person to consider the last time that another family member asked for help. What was your response? Did you cheerfully try to honor the request, or did you ask “Why me?” Read today’s Gospel, John 12:20-33. How do you think Jesus would want us to respond when someone in our family asks for help? Invite each family member to make a commitment for the next week to try to respond cheerfully to requests for help. Pray together, asking God’s help with this commitment. Pray the Prayer of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.