Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, and Mary responds, “Let it be done to me as you say.”

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

Teach children that in saying yes to God, Mary became Jesus’ first and greatest disciple. We can be like Mary by saying yes to God.

Materials Needed

• paper, crayons or pens

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask children: Do you know who Jesus’ first and greatest disciple is? (Mary) What else do you know about Mary? (Accept reasonable responses.) Say: Today we honor Mary by celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother. She was born without sin and given the grace to say yes to God.
2. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Luke 1:26–38.
3. Ask: Who told Mary that she would be Jesus’ mother? (the angel Gabriel) Say: Mary was afraid when she first saw the angel. But she loved God and was obedient to him. When she said, “May it be done to me according to your word,” she was saying yes to being the mother of Jesus.
4. Say: God gives each of us special gifts to share with the world. We say yes to God when we share our gifts to help others. Distribute sheets of paper and crayons or pens. Ask children: How can you say yes to God? Say: Write a letter or draw a picture about one way you will say yes to God.
5. Give children time to write or draw. Invite volunteers to share their work and suggest children display it at home to remind them to be like Mary and say yes to God.
6. Pray for the willingness to always say yes to God, just as Mary did. Then pray together the Hail Mary.

Gospel Reading
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, and Mary responds, “Let it be done to me as you say.”

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

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to tell Mary that she would bear a son through the power of God and that he would be called the Son of God. Mary, because she was “full of grace,” was able to say yes to God. We can be disciples when we say yes to God like Mary did.

Materials Needed

• Chalkboard and chalk or newsprint and markers

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask the group: What do we know and believe as Catholics about Mary, the mother of Jesus? As the group offers their answers, prepare a list on the board of all acceptable answers.

2. Say: Today is a special day in our Church year. We remember and celebrate that Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. It is called the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day we recall that God protected Mary from all stain of original sin from the moment of her conception and life in her mother's womb. Let's listen to the Gospel for this holy day to hear what Mary was able to do because she was “full of grace.”

3. Invite three volunteers to read today's Gospel, Luke 1:26-38. Assign one volunteer to read the part of the narrator; the second volunteer reads the words of the angel; and the third volunteer reads the words of Mary.

4. Ask: How did Mary first respond to the greeting of the angel? (She was "troubled;" she asked how this could be possible.) What does Mary finally say to the angel? (I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be as you say.) Do you think it was easy for Mary to respond in this way? Why or why not? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

5. Say: Mary is a model of discipleship for us because she said yes to God and cooperated with God's plan by becoming the mother of Jesus. We honor Mary because she is the Mother of Jesus and our Mother as well. We pray that we will be like Mary, open to God's call and willing to cooperate with whatever is God's plan for our lives.

6. Conclude by praying together the Hail Mary.

Gospel Reading
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, and Mary responds, “Let it be done to me as you say.”

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Young people in this age group are conscious of who is connected through friendship. They understand that the right connections can help people succeed. The Gospel for the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary reveals that Mary has a very special connection to God.

Materials Needed

• Index cards
• Pens or pencils

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Tell the young people that some people benefit from having connections in high places.

2. Invite them to imagine to whom they wish they had a connection.

3. Distribute index cards to the young people and have them complete the following sentence: I wish I knew someone who… (Example: I wish I knew someone who could get me a backstage pass to my favorite singer's concert.)

4. When the young people have finished, invite volunteers to read aloud their cards.

5. Point out that Catholics think of Mary as someone who has a privileged connection to Jesus and that, in our prayers, we often ask Mary to help us grow closer to her son, Jesus.

6. Say: The Gospel for the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary tells us the story of how God called Mary to accept a special role.

7. Invite volunteers to read aloud Luke 1:26-38.

8. Ask: How did Mary first respond to the greeting of the angel? (She was troubled; she asked how this could be possible.) What does Mary finally say to the angel? (“I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be as you say.”) Do you think it was easy for Mary to respond this way? Why or why not?

9. Say: Mary is a model of discipleship for us because she said yes to God and cooperated with God's plan by becoming the mother of Jesus. We honor Mary because she is the Mother of Jesus and our Mother as well. We can grow closer to God through Mary because of the special place she has in relationship to Jesus.

10. Conclude by praying together the Hail Mary.

Gospel Reading
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, and Mary responds, “Let it be done to me as you say.”

Family Connection

To be chosen by God for a particular task is an awesome thing. That is why we honor Mary, the one chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. Yet we believe that each of us is chosen by God in particular and important ways, and each of us is given gifts and talents by God to share with the world. One of the tremendous responsibilities of parenting is helping our children determine the gifts and talents they have to share with others to serve the reign of God.

As a family, identify some of the gifts and talents that God has given each person in the family. Talk about the ways in which these gifts and talents might be used in the service of others. Recall that Mary was given a special task by God. Read together today's Gospel, Luke 1:26-38. Reflect upon Mary's humble response to God's call. Pray as a family that each person will be like Mary and respond to God with a resounding yes by using their gifts and talents to serve others in both large and small ways. Conclude by praying together the Hail Mary, or perhaps pray a decade of the Rosary, reflecting upon the Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation.