Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes in glory.

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

Younger children are learning new ways to cope with challenges, including naming their feelings and talking about their experiences. We can support children by teaching them that God listens to their prayers and is with them in good times and hard times.

Materials Needed

• none

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask: Who here has ever had a hard day? Pause for children to raise their hands. Say: Yes, we all have good days and hard days, don’t we? What did you do to help you through your hard day? (Accept reasonable responses, such as “talked to a friend/family member, got a hug, prayed.”)
2. Say: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about the things that will happen when he comes again. Some people will be afraid. But Jesus tells us we don’t need to be afraid.
3. Read today’s Gospel, Luke 21:25–28 34–36.
4. Say: Jesus tells his disciples that they can stand tall because he loves them and has saved them. We can trust Jesus. He loves us and is with us, no matter what kind of day we are having. We can tell God about our day and our feelings in our prayer. He always listens to us. He gives us strength and courage to get through hard days.
5. Conclude in prayer together thanking God for loving us and giving us strength and courage in good times and hard times. Pray the Sign of the Cross.

Gospel Reading
Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes in glory.

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

Older children are beginning to awaken to the wider world around them. We can help them navigate this exciting but sometimes overwhelming time by teaching them that prayer helps us stay focused on the things that are most important to us.

Materials Needed

• A picture that needs to be viewed with 3-D glasses or a message that can only be decoded by using colored cellophane

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Show the children the picture that needs to be viewed with 3-D glasses or the message that can only be decoded by using colored cellophane. Allow the children to look at the images with and without the glasses or cellophane.

2. Say: As we grow up, we learn about things that are happening in peoples' lives and in our world. As we look at these things, sometimes we find it difficult to understand what is happening around us. It might seem like we don't have the right “glasses” to see things clearly.

3. Say: In today's Gospel, Jesus predicts things that will happen at the end of time when he comes again in glory. He says that many people will not understand these things, and they will be frightened. But Jesus tells his disciples that they should not be frightened, and he tells them what they should do so that they will be able to see these things clearly. Let's listen carefully to this Gospel so that we can learn what we must do to see the events in our lives and our world more clearly.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read today's Gospel, Luke 21:25-28 34-36.

5. Ask: Why does Jesus say that his disciples shouldn't be frightened by the signs he describes? (because these signs indicate that redemption is near) What does Jesus say that his disciples should do to prepare for these times? (Be vigilant and pray for strength to endure.)

6. Say: We don't need to be fearful about difficult things in our lives either. We can bring these things to God in our prayer, and God will help us see things clearly and give us the strength to face everything and anything that might happen in our lives.

7. Conclude in prayer together asking God to help us see our lives and our world clearly through prayer. Invite everyone to express their confidence and trust in God by praying the Lord's Prayer.

Gospel Reading
Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes in glory.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Adolescence can be a disorienting time as young people negotiate the developmental and social changes they experience. We can help young people appreciate prayer as an antidote to fear and as a means for finding consolation and strength in God.

Materials Needed

• Paper and pencils

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: As we get older, we sometimes experience a new and difficult emotion: worry. Our choices become more difficult, and we worry about making the right decisions. We are aware of more of what is going on around us in the lives of our friends and families and in our world, and we worry if everything will turn out okay. The first step to learning to cope with this emotion is to name the things that worry us. Let's take some quiet time to write privately about some things we find ourselves worrying about. I won't ask you to share what you write. Distribute paper and pencils and allow time for quiet journaling.

2. Say: In today's Gospel, Jesus talks to his disciples about times and circumstances that many people will find troubling. But he tells his disciples that they are not to be frightened by these things. Let's listen carefully to this Gospel.

3. Invite one or more volunteers to read today's Gospel, Luke 21:25-28,34-36.

4. Ask: Why does Jesus say that his disciples should not be frightened by the signs he describes? (because these signs indicate that their redemption is near) What does Jesus say that his disciples should do to prepare for these times? (Be vigilant and pray for strength to endure.)

5. Say: We don't need to be fearful about difficult things or about changes in our lives either. We can bring these things to God in our prayers, and God will give us the strength to face everything and anything that might happen in our lives.

6. Conclude in prayer together asking God for the strength to handle the things that worry us. Invite the young people to review their list of worries and to choose one to focus on in their prayer today. Allow time for the young people to pray quietly as they tell God about their worry or concern. After a sufficient time, remind them that God gives each of us the strength to handle whatever difficulties we may face. Invite everyone to express their confidence and trust in God by praying the Lord's Prayer.

Gospel Reading
Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes in glory.

Family Connection

In today's Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples against the fatigue that can emerge if one becomes consumed by the anxieties of daily life. Many families are too familiar with the kind of fatigue Jesus refers to here. We may be concerned about a family member's health, our job security, our children's education, or any number of other concerns. All these are important matters. Jesus does not promise an end to daily worries and fears, but he does teach his disciples that they will have the strength to withstand anxiety if they stay focused on him, remaining vigilant for his return and praying for strength to endure all tribulations. Through prayer, God helps us stay focused on that which is most important in our lives.

As you gather as a family, recall the tradition of making New Year's resolutions in preparation for the new calendar year. Observe that today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is the beginning of the new Church year. During the season of Advent, our Gospel readings ask us to consider what is most important to us as we prepare for Jesus' coming, at his birth and at the end of time. Read today's Gospel, Luke 21:25-28,34-36. Jesus describes signs that may disturb many people, but he says that these should not to disturb his disciples. Why? (because these signs indicate that redemption is near) What does Jesus say that his disciples should do? (Be vigilant and pray for strength.) At this start of the new Church year, consider as a family what “Advent resolutions” your family might make to help you stay focused so that you will be prepared to receive the salvation we celebrate at Jesus' birth and anticipate at Jesus' second coming. Pray together for God's help in following through on these resolutions. Pray together today's psalm, Psalm 25.