Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE Dismissal Session The Dismissal Session is for catechumens only who are dismissed from worship before the Creed (RCIA #75.3). The Dismissal Session group may gather for the Catechetical Session at another time during the week. Children s RCIA Resource CATECHIST S NOTES Catechetical Session When the Dismissal Session is immediately followed by the Catechetical Session, parents or other sponsors join the group after Eucharist. Baptized children preparing for confirmation and Eucharist may also join in the Catechetical Session (RCIA #254; Appendix III, #19). Select options and adapt the session to fit your time frame. NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY Sunday s readings Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-8 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 Doctrine correlations Faith in the resurrection rests on faith in God (CCC #993). In John 11:25 Jesus links faith in the resurrection to his own person: I am the resurrection and the life (CCC #994). RCIA team notes The guidelines for the adult penitential rites may be followed and adapted (RCIA #291), so the children who are the elect may experience more than one scrutiny. The presentation of the Lord s Prayer takes place this week (RCIA #178). Coordinate with the leaders of the adult group, as needed. By Janet Miller. Copyright 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved.
CATECHIST S NOTES GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION Items to prepare check-in sheet and nametag materials poster paper or white board, erasers, and erasable markers violet cloth on table or counter space for prayer Bibles, one set to John 11:1 crucifix candle in a heat-proof holder, matches paper slips printed with characters names Sharing Faith questions, copies of Faith At Home recycled scratch paper, pencils, nice paper, pens Gathering Prayer Ritual Set up a prayer space. Check any ethnic cultural prohibitions about touching. Singing option Use music from your faith community resources. The suggestion is a guide. Bring songbooks and music in a player. Building community Using the statements in the session as a model, prepare others that apply to the maturity level and social situation of the group. If the children are among the elect, use the option. While it is designed to break open the third scrutiny, it provides appropriate reflection even without that experience. Snack option Send a reminder to the sponsor providing the snack this week. Engaging the Word option On separate slips of recycled paper, print the characters names (Jesus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, disciples, Jews), one per pair of members. Repeat as needed. Sharing Faith groups Put the Scripture citation with the questions on cards for group leaders. Crossing the Ages Activity option: Death to Life Poem Print the poem formula and example on the board or on a large sheet of paper to display. Develop some suggestions to assist if needed. Plan to display the poems on a faith community bulletin board or at a business, or have them published in the bulletin. Note: Extra time may be needed to display the poems. Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A 2
DISMISSAL SESSION GATHERING (15 MINUTES) Catechumens, having heard the Sunday proclamation of the word, are dismissed from the Mass. Greet the catechumens as they arrive. Have them check in and put on nametags. Provide nametag materials for anyone new. GATHERING PRAYER RITUAL All stand around the prayer focal point with the words for All displayed. Light the candle. A volunteer holds up a crucifix. All: Leader: All: Be with us, Jesus, as we walk the way of your cross. Christ Crucified, have mercy on us. The crucifix is placed near the Bible on a violet cloth. Song Suggestion: Come and Follow Me from Give Your Gifts, Melody Book, GIA Publications, Inc. ( ) Invite the members when you lift a hand to respond with My soul trusts in God s word. Prayerfully say each of the following verses inspired by Psalm 130, and call for the response by lifting a hand: Let your ears, O God, be attentive to my voice. (response) With God there is kindness and redemption. (response) The Lord will redeem Israel from all its sins. (response) Hold the hands of the catechumen closest to you and say: God will give life to your body when the Spirit of God dwells in your soul. Each catechumen takes the next person s hands and repeats, God will give life. Conclude by declaring: Whoever believes in God will never die. Extinguish the candle flame. Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A 3
CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER Invite everyone to sit in a circle. Introduce anyone new. Invite sharing about their experiences with the Faith at Home page from the previous session. BUILDING COMMUNITY Life or Death: Explain that the group will respond to a series of situations. When you ask, Life or death?, anyone who believes the action is life-giving stands up. If not, they remain seated. Invite everyone to consider the following situations: Praying when you are tempted to do something that seems wrong. Life or death? Following the group if saying no will embarrass you. Life or death? Asking WWJD (What would Jesus do?) when making choices. Life or death? Getting what you want no matter the cost. Life or death? Add other situations that are appropriate for this group. Then, have everyone sit. Ask for general comments about situations that are life-giving and those that lead to spiritual death. For the elect: This reflection breaks open the third scrutiny adapted from the adult rite but is appropriate for all children preparing for initiation. What are some worldly deceits that you are beginning to feel strongly against? When, if ever, have you felt sin dying in you? How do you feel as your initiation approaches, knowing you will soon be sharing in the Eucharist for the first time? RECALLING THE WORD (10 MINUTES) Have everyone sit with Bibles in a circle. Use the following as a guide. For information, refer to Insight for the Catechist and the reflection on the Faith at Home page. Have the catechumens turn to Ezekiel 37:12-14. Explain: The prophet Ezekiel encouraged the Jewish people who had been taken as captives in war. They were living as refugees in a country far from their homeland. His vision included a powerful image to give the people hope that someday God would return them home as a free people. What image does Ezekiel use to help the people keep hope in God? What does God s spirit do? Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A 4
Have everyone turn to Romans 8:8-11. Clarify: Saint Paul explains to the Romans that by accepting Christ, the Spirit of God dwells within them. Those without the Spirit only seek to satisfy desires of the body without considering what is right. I wonder, why is it important to have the Spirit of Christ dwell within you? This week we heard an amazing gospel story about believing and the glory of God. Turn to John 11:1-45. What are your thoughts about this Gospel story? (Affirm all comments.) Jesus asked Martha, Do you believe? How would you answer if Jesus asked you? Summarize the members comments and insights. Emphasize: Martha declared her faith in Jesus as the Messiah, who responded by showing the power of new life. We also pray when we do not want someone we love to die. Sometimes the person s health does improve, but that is not the point of the new life Jesus offers. Eventually, our earthly bodies do die, but believing brings a new way of living both now and in eternity. PRAYING INTERCESSIONS (5 MINUTES) We believe that God knows our concerns and hears our prayers, so let us petition God in prayer. When I lift my hand, please respond, God of all that lives, hear our prayer. We pray for all captives to have hope and obtain freedom. (Lift a hand for the response.) Help all believers to live according to your indwelling Spirit. (Lift a hand for the response.) We give you thanks, O God, for the offer of new life. (Lift a hand for the response.) Invite the members to contribute intercessions. Then conclude: Almighty God, you empowered Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead as a sign of new life. Help us to follow the way of believers. We pray in unity with the Holy Spirit and through Christ Jesus, who shows us the way to you, God of all the living, who lives and reigns forever and ever. All: Amen. Option: Break for a snack or social time. Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A 5
CATECHETICAL SESSION The Catechetical Session follows the Dismissal Session either immediately or at another time during the week. The Catechetical Session is designed for catechumens and parents or sponsors to grow in faith together. The status of the catechumens never is to be confused with that of baptized children preparing for confirmation or Eucharist, who may join in this catechesis as supportive companions (RCIA, Appendix III, #19). GATHERING FOR CATECHESIS (5 MINUTES) Welcome the catechumens, parents, sponsors, and any baptized children arriving from liturgy. If this Catechetical Session does not immediately follow the Dismissal Session, allow an additional ten minutes and begin with the Gathering segment in the Dismissal Session. PRAYING Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Use the ( ) prayer from the Gathering Prayer Ritual in the Dismissal Session or another prayer, or sing a gathering song from liturgy. ENGAGING THE WORD (15 MINUTES) Assign partners with Bibles, recycled scratch paper, and pencils. Have each pair select a slip of paper with a character s name printed on it (Jesus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, disciples, Jews). Print the following on the board, and ask them to find the answers for their characters. What did the character say and do? How does the character feel? How did the character change, if at all? In the whole group, invite each pair to say one discovery. FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-8 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 Insight for the Catechist Declaring I am the resurrection, Jesus proclaims that belief in him means an end to death. Jesus raises Lazarus, a sign that inspires many Jews to believe. Friends of Jesus, even though their bodies die, experience life in a new way. Mary and Martha trust in Jesus friendship, but his enemies may be setting a trap at Bethany. Jesus hesitates. Either by conquering his own fears or to prove beyond a doubt that God empowers him, Jesus goes to his distraught friends. The reality of his friend s death and the spiritual demand of raising the corpse heighten Jesus emotions. He asks unbelievers to roll away the stone that entombs them in disbelief. Martha recognizes Jesus as the Messiah sent by God to save the world. In bringing Lazarus back to life, Jesus endangers his own life as the plot against him heightens. By Janet Miller. Illustration by Liz Asborno. Copyright 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. 6
SHARING FAITH (15 MINUTES) Form groups of four to six mixed-age groups with Bibles. (If there are only a few participants, lead a whole-group discussion.) Print the questions on large paper or marker board, or distribute questions on cards to adult leaders. Circulate to offer support as needed. CONVERSING ABOUT JOHN 11:1-45 How would you have felt if you were Martha and Mary and Jesus was late in coming? What does Martha believe? What do you learn about Jesus when he goes to Lazarus tomb? Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. What does that mean to you? Invite each person to comment on something he or she discovered during this week. Encourage affirming comments, not discussion. Conclude: Jesus had deep feelings for his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but he did not save Lazarus for personal reasons. The miracle helped many others to realize the power of God and believe. With Martha we proclaim, I do believe! Because of Jesus, we have hope in God and believe in the resurrection of our bodies. CARRYING OUT THE WORD (5 MINUTES) SUMMING UP Invite everyone to stand around the prayer focal point. Encourage them to offer insights from this week s session. Conclude with the following: When we reflect on Scripture, some of our questions are answered while other questions continue to come to us. This week, we explored a miracle that inspired many people to believe in Jesus. We who believe will never die. Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A 7
CLOSING PRAYER If meeting with the elect who have received the Lord s Prayer, conclude with a recitation of that prayer Jesus taught. Ask the group to spend a few moments in quiet reflection about why they believe. Then, invite those who wish to state, I do believe, or offer other prayers. Raise your hands in blessing over the group, and say: Go forth from this place believing in Jesus. And may God bless us, (make the Sign of the Cross on yourself as a model for everyone) protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. All: Amen. Distribute the Faith at Home page. Collect the nametags. Crossing the Ages Activity (Optional activity: 20 minutes) Death to Life Poem (Deepen sense of the mystery of salvation) Depending on your schedule, do the activity with the members, parents, and sponsors. Show the poem formula and the example. Explain: A diamante poem has five lines and leads from one word to its opposite. Line: Description: Example: Line 1: Noun Unbelief Line 2: 3 adjectives describing that noun Cloudy, sad, hopeless Line 3: 5 -ing verbs move from original noun to its opposite Hearing, seeing, touching, knowing, loving Line 4: 3 adverbs assist the movement Gradually, constantly, often Line 5: Opposite noun Belief Distribute recycled scratch paper and pencils. Ask everyone to compose a diamante poem that moves from death to life. Some members may prefer to work with a partner. Circulate to help. Provide nice paper and pens for final drafts. Ask the office to publish one in the bulletin during upcoming weeks. Extended-time option: Parents and children go to display the poems on a faith-community bulletin board or at a business. Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A 8
Faith at Home Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A Remember Sunday s Word Ezekiel 37:12-14 Psalm 130:1-8 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 At a convenient time for the family, gather around the dining table or in the living room. Silence all electronics. Place a Bible opened to John 11 in the center. Begin with a moment of quiet. REFLECTING ON EZEKIEL 37:12-14 In the sixth century B.C., Nebuchadnezzar conquered the kingdom of Judah and took thousands of captives to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel used strong images to encourage the people to hope in God, who someday would enable them to return home. What does the image of bringing people out of graves say about God s power? In what situations today are people living as if in graves and suffering from great loss? Skim the news to update the family on places where people are suffering. You may find articles on people who have lost their homes, those in war-torn countries, or those suffering from mental or physical problems. Cut out one or more articles. Place the articles near the Bible, and pray that the Spirit of God will be life-giving for people in crisis. REFLECTING ON ROMANS 8:8-11 Paul uses the term flesh to refer to those who consider satisfying desires of the body more important than conforming to the Spirit of God. A believer s body is joined with the indwelling Spirit of God. We have a choice. We can live in a way that indulges the impulses that sometimes tempt our bodies, or we can live in righteousness guided by the Spirit of God within us. Which way of living do we choose? What are the warning signs when we are headed in the wrong direction of only satisfying the flesh? By Janet Miller. Copyright 2011, TeamRCIA.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to reproduce this handout for family home use.
REFLECTING ON JOHN 11:1-45 Even though Martha is upset that her friend Jesus took so long to come, she still declares her belief that he is the Messiah. When Jesus raises her brother, Lazarus, from the dead, many others come to believe as well. Declaring I am the resurrection, Jesus makes it clear that belief in him means an end to death. Friends of Jesus live in a new way. What concerns do each of us have about death? Does the assurance that Jesus gives new life help alleviate our concerns? In what ways? Sometimes when an ill person receives a terminal diagnosis, old friends fade away and family members go into avoidance mode. You might hear, I just can t stand to see her this way, or He needs to rest, so I won t bother him. The final days, whether they are weeks or months, can be the best of a person s life. The ill person may tell priceless life stories or show appreciation and love in an intense new way. With good support, quality of life is amplified for those who are critically ill. Identify someone in the family, neighborhood, or community who has a terminal disease. Possibly, as a family, befriend someone in a care home. Make a family plan to get to know the person and offer the feeling of new life. Here are some suggestions: Make and send cards. Share a meal or comfort foods. Take a pet for a visit if the person likes animals. Listen to the person s life story, and write down words of wisdom. As weather permits take the person for a walk or on an outing. Contact relatives who live far away to keep them updated. Friends on the Way - Fifth Sunday of Lent, A