[28] FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT B
FIRST READING
When we were dead through sin, Christ brought us to life.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians 2:4-10
Brothers and sisters:
God was merciful!
We were dead because of sins,
but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ,
and God’s kindness is what saves you.
God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus,
and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven above.
God did this so that in the future world he could show
how truly good and kind he is to us
because of what Christ Jesus has done.
You were served by faith in God
who treats us better than we deserve.
This is God’s gift to you,
and not anything you have done on your own.
It isn’t something you have earned,
so there is nothing you can brag about.
God planned for us to do good things
and to live as he has always wanted us to live.
That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 25:4-5abc, 6 and 7 cd
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Show me your paths
and teach me to follow;
guide me by your truth
and instruct me.
You keep me safe.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Please, Lord, remember,
you have always
been patient and kind.
Show how truly kind you are
and remember me.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL John 3:16
R. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son,
that all who believe in him might have eternal life.
R. Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL
God sent his Son into the world, that we might be saved through him.
† A reading from the holy gospel according to John 3:16-17
Jesus told Nicodemus:
“God loved the people of this world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who has faith in him
will have eternal life and never die.
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people.
He sent him to save them!”
The gospel of the Lord.
Fourth Sunday of Lent — Cycle B
Prayer: Dear Jesus, we feel your love and care every day. We pray and do kind acts to be
your signs of love to each other. Thank you for never forgetting about us. We love you.
AMEN.
Readings: 2 Chron. 36:14-16, 19-23; Ps 137:1-6; Eph 2:4-10; John 3:14-21
The Scripture passages this week tell us of God’s unwavering love—no matter how
disobedient we are! It is true: The stories in the Bible are of God’s relationship/friendship
with us. We see clearly that God’s attitude to us is not “I AM BIGGER and STRONGER
THAN YOU.” It is: I will love you forever, even when you don’t love me!!
This is a hard, if not impossible, truth. Most of us love those who love us and dislike those
who don’t like us.. Why would anyone, much less God, love people even when they do
wrong? In fact, we know of many stories in the Hebrew (Old Testament) Scriptures, that tell
of unfaithfulness, disobedience and unbelief. (Like: Adam and Eve; Cain; Isarelites;
Moses; David; Jonah, etc.)
The passage from Ephesians states: “…We are God’s handiwork.” Then, the gospel of
John tells us that God sent Jesus because of love: “God so loved the world that God sent
God’s only Son…” John makes it clear, by linking believing in God’s Son—God’s ultimate
gift of love—to eternal life. Nicodemus, like us, doesn’t understand fully the gift of love
Jesus is. The Gospel of John uses the image of LIGHT to show how we prefer to “be in the
dark” about the true abundance of God’s love. At some level, deep within ourselves, we
want to believe in unconditional love but it is hard to come out into the light.
We begin to realize if we really believe in God’s unconditional love, then we will LOVE all the
time and everyone. WOW. Is that possible? Yes. Because once we do something over-
and-over, it becomes more natural. Jesus loved, over-and-over, because he believed in
God’s unconditional love. So, if we are “God’s handiwork,” we must be natural lovers when
we are at our best. That’s why, during Lent, we look around and within to see if there are
things, attitudes we are doing that aren’t loving. When we discover something: Then we
repent—change—and start over. What helps us is God’s GRACE—little energy bursts!!
GRACE nudges us; Supports us; Leads us toward being the loving ‘handiwork’ of God.
Heaven, is being filled with GRACE and LOVE for all eternity. It isn’t a place, as much as it
is a WAY OF BEING, that truly reflects God in each of us. Heaven is the fullness of LIGHT
and shows us God, face-to-face!
Activities:
In your Lenten Booklet, turn to page 4. Write the word, LIGHT. Draw a few pictures of
different lights: Lamps, traffic lights; flood lights; yard lights, etc. What do each of these
lights do? They make it easier for people to see and to act accordingly. The energy to
make lights work comes from a source, a generator. Well, in a certain way, God is the
generator and Jesus is the LIGHT. We see and act in love, because GRACE comes into us
(Continued on page 2)
just like energy comes from the generator into Jesus. Jesus is more than just JESUS. He is the LIGHT
of GOD. And Jesus gave us the power to be lights, too, by sharing GRACE. Write the word, GRACE on
page 3.
Finally, have the children form a circle for prayer. If it is possible, light a small candle and put it in the
center of the circle. Explain: Each person is going to bless the person next to them, in a special way as
part of the prayer. They will follow your example.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, we believe you are the LIGHT of the world and the LIGHT in our hearts. Helps us
to keep the light of your love in our hearts every minute of every day. AMEN. (Then, turn to the person
next to you, and say, while making a small ‘sign of the cross’ on their forehead: “Your are the Light of
Jesus. Shine bright this week.” (Be ready to help each child repeat the phrase.)
Then sing: “This Little Light Of Mine.”
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, this little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Ev'ry where I go
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
All in my house
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, all in my house
I'm going to let it shine
All in my house
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
I'm not going to make it shine
I'm just going to let it shine
I'm not going to make it shine
I'm just going to let it shine
I'm not going to make it shine
I'm just going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Out in the dark
I'm going to let it shine
Oh, out in the dark
I'm going to let it shine
Out in the dark
I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
