Looking at the Symbols of the Passion of Jesus - Palm Sunday

We have been journeying
through this season of Lent coming
closer and closer to Good Friday and to
the most sacred times in our Church. We
begin Holy Week remembering the great
love Jesus had for us when He
surrendered His own life on the Cross. It is also a special time
to thank Jesus for this love and to do all that we can to get
closer to Him; therefore, we look at the spear that the soldiers
used to pierce the side of Jesus.
Saint John, in his gospel, tells us: “One of the soldiers
thrust a lance into Jesus’ side, and immediately blood and water
flowed out. . . . They shall look on Him whom they have
pierced.”
Suggested activity: Spend five minutes each day this
week in personal prayer and participate in the Holy Week
Services as a family.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Sunday Gospel Message - Palm Sunday of the LORD'S Passion

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
This is the week that we call “holy.” We look at the
great events of the last week of Jesus’ physical life upon earth.
All of these events tell us of His great love for us. “He
humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on the cross.” Use this week to reflect upon Jesus’
great love for us. He gave Himself in the Eucharist and He died
on the cross for us.
This week celebrates the most beautiful liturgies of the
entire liturgical year. If, at all possible, attend the Holy Week
services. Some ceremonies are long, but they are most
significant and meaningful. The Easter Vigil, on Saturday, is most special for it is the highlight of the Lenten
Retreat. At that time, we will welcome into our community of
faith those individuals who have been part of the RCIA process
for months. Try to join in prayer during the Sacred Triduum,
Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Palm Sunday

Gospel Passage
Luke 19:28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of
Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and
as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and
bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The
Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told
them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you
untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to
Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode
along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now
approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the
disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power
that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the
Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in
the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I
tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Questions for Discussion:

1. The people lined up on the sides of the road and shouted and waved
branches (like we wave flags for a parade). Why were they so happy to see
Jesus? What had He been doing for them?

2. The people in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus by shouting, “Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Do we ever say those
words? What do they mean when we say them?

3. After all the cheering is done, we will then hear on Palm Sunday about
Jesus suffering and pain, His crucifixion on the cross and His death. Instead of
“Hosanna!”, the people will say “Crucify Him!” What are some ways that we can say "Hosanna!" to God, instead of saying "Crucify Him!"? (Hint: think of sin)
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first
to throw a stone at her.” “Has no one condemned you?” “Go,
and from now on do not sin any more.” These are Jesus’
words! Is this not a good reminder of the difference between
the sin and the sinner? God loves us even when we sin. He
loves us enough to encourage us to seek His forgiveness and
mercy and not to sin again because we hurt ourselves. He loves
us enough to urge us not to remain in our sin, but to turn to Him
and receive forgiveness.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C

Gospel Passage
John 8:1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came
again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach
them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in
adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this
woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses
commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to
test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down
and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he
straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the
first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the
ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the
elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus
straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned
you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go
your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Questions for Discussion -

1. This woman was caught trying to take away someone that belonged in
marriage to someone else already. If we have something that belongs to us, is it right for someone to take it away? Should we take things that don’t belong to us? What is the sin of adultery? Why is it so wrong and contrary to God’s plan?

2. Jesus said, “Let the one among you without sin be the first to cast a stone at
her.” Jesus knew that, sometimes, we like to tell on other people so that they
won’t notice our sins so much. Has this ever happened to you? What do you
think Jesus calls us to do about it?

3. While Jesus did not condemn the woman, he did condemn her sin and
told her, out of love, to go and “from now on, do not sin again.” Why does Jesus do this?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Fourth Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Is it the story of the Prodigal Son or the Prodigal
Father or the Forgiving Father? Actually, it is all three! The
son squandered his inheritance. The father was lavish in
giving his son forgiveness and restoring him to his
inheritance rights. The father forgave everything. The
parable is a beautiful rendition of how the forgiving God
treats us. Even if we go away from Him for awhile, He is
ready to forgive us everything and restore us to the rights of
royalty in His kingdom.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Fourth Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday

Gospel Passage
Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and
the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told
them this parable: 11 “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he
squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place
throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the
citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself
with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he
said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off
and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran
and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves,
‘Quickly, bring out a robe — the best one — and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and
when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and
asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf,
because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came
out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been
working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a
young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him,
‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because
this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Questions for Discussion:

1. What was the younger son’s terrible sin? What made him stop and come home?

2. Why was the Father so happy? Why is God the Father so happy when we, his
prodigal sons and daughters, come back to him in the Sacrament of Confession (forgiveness)?

3. What was the older son’s problem? Why couldn’t he be happy that his brother
came back? Why do you think he allowed jealousy to make him angry?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Third Sunday of Lent

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Lent is a call to repentance. Jesus tells us how we
are to repent and to turn to Him. Our desert scene in front of
the altar is a reminder that we are on this Lenten Retreat with
Jesus. Repentance and showing forgiveness and mercy are
the messages that this season brings to us. God called Moses
to be the instrument of freedom to be given to the Israelites.
Jesus is our instrument of salvation. Cling to Him and
follow Him and salvation with be ours.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Third Sunday of Lent

Gospel Passage
Luke 13:1 At that very time there were some present who told him about
the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He
asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless
you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were
killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them — do you think that they were
worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but
unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” 6 Then he told this
parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking
for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For
three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none.
Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it
alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it
bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’

Questions for Discussion -

1. Jesus says we have two choices: Be sorry for our sins and live forever in
Heaven OR Keep sinning and die. We all want to go to Heaven, so how are you
going to stop sinning and be forgiven?

2. Jesus says that he wants us to “bear fruit” (do good things for others) in our
lives, and not be like a fig tree without any figs. Do you think your life is
“fruitful”? What fruit (acts of faith, hope and love) have you been “bearing”
in your life as a disciple of Jesus? Have you tried to bring others to him?

3. Jesus says that He wants us to do good things for him NOW, not to put it off for later! So what are you going to try to do TODAY and THIS WEEK for the God
who loves you?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry