Cathechetical news for the week of March 15, 2020

                                                                

From the desk of Ms. Kathleen Cook, Director of Religious Education

Theme: John 4:5-42 Jesus reveals himself to the Samaritan woman at the well.
Summary: This story of the Woman at the Well speaks of the evolution of faith. In this passage from John’s gospel we see the woman coming to a deeper knowledge and faith in Jesus. With each encounter the Samaritan woman sees Jesus more clearly for who he is. Through his conversation with her the woman ultimately comes to faith in Jesus and becomes an apostle for the people of her town. In verse 39 we hear that many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony. The Samaritan Woman fulfills one of the conditions for being called an apostle, and that is to bring others to faith in Jesus.

Scripture: Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4: 13-14
 
One day Jesus was walking through a town in Samaria. He was hot and tired so he sat down beside a well to rest. A woman came to the well to get some water  and Jesus asked her if she would give him a drink. The woman was surprised that Jesus spoke to her because Jews would not usually speak to Samaritans. 
Jesus told her that He could give her living water!

She didn’t understand what He was talking about so she said, "You don't even have anything to get water in, how can you give me living water?"

Then Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from the water  from this well will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again."

Wow! Water that would satisfy your thirst so you would never be thirsty again! Jesus wasn't talking about our thirst for water from a well.  He was talking about our thirst for God. The Bible teaches us that we have a thirst in our heart for the living God, and that is a thirst that only Jesus can satisfy. So when we have Jesus in our heart, He satisfies our thirst for God and we will never thirst again! Jesus is life!

Dear Lord, You have given us Jesus, the Living Water.  May we drink of Your Living Water so we will never thirst again. In Jesus’ name, amen.    www.sermons4kids.com
 
Key Words in Today’s Readings: www.livingwithchrist.us
First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7

                The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible. It tells the story of how God freed his people from slavery in Egypt. God made a promise or covenant with the people and gave them the Ten Commandments     to show them how to live well.

                A Staff is a large stick or cane used by a shepherd and other herdsmen. It can also be used as a walking stick. It is a symbol of authority carried by a leader. A bishop carries a staff called crozier.

Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

                When we hurt others, we break our friendship with God. Jesus came to restore our friendship with God, and  we are justified, or brought back to God, by our faith in Jesus.
                We have hope or confidence that God will fulfill his promises. Hope is one of the three great Christian virtues. The other two are faith and love.

Gospel: John 4:5-42

                The Gospel of John tells us about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It was written about 60 years after Jesus died. Saint John’s gospel includes some stories and sayings that are not in the other gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

                Jacob also called Israel, was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham. The twelve tribes of Israel are all descended from Jacob.

                When Jesus says to worship the Father in spirit and truth, he is reminding us that God does not want us to bring a sacrifice or gift when we worship. God would rather we bring our hearts full of love.

                Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic. Messiah is an Aramaic word meaning “anointed.” The chosen  person was anointed or blessed with holy oil and given a special mission. The Greek word for “anointed” is “Christ.”

My Promise to Jesus:  Jesus, this week I will be careful to say thank you to all those who help me.       https://us.magnificat.net/my-sunday-gospel-coloring-book-2020.html

Reflect: If a word or phrase from the Gospel captures your heart, sit quietly for several minutes, repeating it to yourself and asking God to show you how it applies to your life.  When do you have good opportunities to share with others what your faith means to you and how you live it? www.smp.org
 
Suggested book that compliments today’s Gospel:
http://scu.edu/character/build-plant-grow/
The Weight of Mass
Written by Katalin Szegedi
ISBN: 10-0940112094

Pray that you will always allow Jesus to be the light that will guide you throughout your life and that others may come to see things differently through him. You may wish to use a mantra prayer... “Jesus be the light through which I may see all things.”

Family Discussion:  Lent is a season for repentance. It is a season during which we are called to reflect upon and to live deeply the promises of Baptism. The well and the conversation about water immediately recall for us the Sacrament of Baptism. As the Samaritan woman was converted and sent on a mission because of the conversation about water, we too are converted and sent by our Baptism to preach the good news of Jesus to others.

Take this opportunity to reflect upon the importance of Baptism with your family. If you have photos or other mementos of your family’s Baptisms, bring them out and take some time to recall the day of Baptism and its importance to you and your family. Create a prayer table that includes these mementos and a bowl of holy water. After you have spent some time talking about Baptism, invite everyone to listen carefully and prayerfully to today’s Gospel. Read John 4:5-42 together. Ask how Jesus’ meeting with the woman at the well is like Baptism. (Jesus knows the woman’s sin and forgives her. The woman comes to know Jesus as the Messiah. The woman invites others to meet Jesus.) Pray a prayer of blessing for each member of the family that God will help each one live the promises of his or her Baptism. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer....... www.loyolapress.com