Cycle B 2nd Sunday Lent

Second Sunday of Lent [CYCLE B]

MAIN MESSAGE

[This is for reference only. Please do not read it at Mass] The Second Sunday of Lent focuses on the transfiguration of Jesus. It was a glorious revelation to the disciples of who their master really was. The words of the Father both strengthened the message and directed them to respond to it: “This is my beloved Son! Listen to him.” Today God exhorts us all to listen to Christ, for he ‘has the words of eternal life’. We talk to the children about listening to scripture, as opposed to simply hearing it. We give them some practical steps to make scripture reading an exercise in listening. They could be reminded to keep following the Lenten Calendar as a family.

INTRODUCTION: Celebrant: Children, last week I asked you what you would do if you got a phone call from your dad calling you to his office. Today I want to ask you a question which is just a little bit different. • Suppose your mummy called out to you when you were half asleep in bed, and said, “I think your principal is on the line. He wants to talk to you.” What would you do?... Run to the phone, of course, and listen carefully to what your principal says! If such an important person calls, you wouldn’t say, “I’m too sleepy. Tell him to call later!” • Today we will hear how God the Father spoke from a cloud and told Jesus’ disciples, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” He wanted to make sure they knew that Jesus was someone very special, someone they must listen to. LITURGY OF THE WORD: Commentator: This reading is about Abraham, who heard God’s voice and listened to him. God was very happy with him and blessed him. First Reading: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-17. Psalm: 103:1-2,8 &11. Gospel: Mark 9:2-10. Homily: Celebrant: Did you pay attention to the gospel? Close your eyes and try to imagine the whole story. Imagine you are also there with Peter, James and John, climbing up the mountain with Jesus. You reach the top and you are out of breath and tired. You sit down on a rock and suddenly you notice a

strange light. You turn round and see that Jesus is shining, brighter and brighter, so that you can hardly look at him. What is happening? Then you see two other men appear like magic next to Jesus. Even though you have never seen a picture of Moses or Elijah, you know that it is them. Jesus talks to them for some time while you and the disciples watch. Then the most awesome thing happens. A huge shining cloud covers you all and out of the cloud a voice comes, thundering: “This is my beloved Son! Listen to him!” Then everything is back to normal and you see only Jesus, looking like a normal person. As you walk down the mountain again, you keep hearing the words over and over in your mind, “This is my beloved Son…my beloved Son… listen to him!.. Listen to him!...” And you keep seeing Jesus, like a sun, shining brightly, looking so great and wonderful…. Open your eyes now. • What do you think the three disciples, Peter, James and John felt as they came down the mountain? They had followed Jesus for many months and had heard him teach many times. But now they realised in a new way, that their master was not just an ordinary man. He was God’s own Son… He was God! After hearing the Father’s words they realised that they must listen to Jesus. • [The message would be more meaningful if a personal testimony or story is told of how God spoke to someone through the scripture.] •

What do you think God meant when he said, “Listen to him!”? Listening is more than just hearing. Right now all of you can hear many sounds, because you are not deaf. You all have ears to hear with. But if I tell you now to be quiet and listen to the sounds around, you will suddenly notice more… the sound of traffic on the road… a child crying… dogs barking… even your own breathing. Listening means paying great attention. I think God also wanted the disciples to take Jesus’ words to heart and think about them and try to follow them.

• Today the Father is saying to all of us, to you and to me, “Jesus is my beloved Son. He has many things to say to you, because he loves you. Listen to him!” •

How does Jesus talk to us? He talks to us in many ways, but he talks to us especially through the Gospels. In the Gospels we hear Jesus’ own words and hear what he did. Do you read the Bible at home? Do you read as a family? I will give you some good hints to help you to listen and not just hear:

1. First of all be quiet and get ready to listen.(Remember, the words are not just ordinary words, but they are God talking to you.) You could ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen. 2. Read the Bible passage you have chosen. As you listen, keep asking, “What are you saying to me, Lord?” Read the passage again. 3. If some words seem special to you, write them down, or keep repeating them in your mind, so that you remember them. 4. Now talk to God about them. 5. If you are with your family, each one can tell the others the words that struck them. 6. Keep the words in your mind all the day. • How happy the Father will be if you do this! Just as he blessed Abraham for listening to him, he will bless you for listening to his son, Jesus.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS ENTRANCE: OFFERTORY: COMMUNION: RECESSIONAL:

PREPARATION REQUIRED:

He’s Got the Whole World Open My Eyes Lord Jesus You’re the Sweetest Name Walking With Jesus.. List’ning

FIR ST REA DING :

• Practice the readings. • Make poster and put up.

A reading from the book of Genesis.

God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And Abraham said, “Here I am.” God said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” When they had come to the place, Abraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And Abraham said, “Here I am.” The angel said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing that you were ready to give up your only son from me.” And Abraham looked up and there, behind him was a ram, caught in a bush by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “Because you have done this, and were ready to give up your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will give you many descendants, as many as the stars in heaven and as the sand on the seashore.” This is the Word of the Lord.

PSALM :

Response:

The Lor d i s k ind and merci ful .

With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name! With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been.

The Lord is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails. How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth!

ACCLA MA TION : Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard: This is my beloved Son, listen to him. GOSPEL : A reading theLord HolyJesus Gospel according to St. Mark. Glory and praise from to you, Christ. Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and went up on a high mountain, where they could be alone. There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His clothes became much whiter than any bleach on earth could make them. Then Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Teacher, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter and the others were terribly frightened and he did not know what he was saying. The shadow of a cloud passed over and covered them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him!” At once the disciples looked around, but they saw only Jesus. As Jesus and his disciples were coming down the mountain, he told them not to say a word about what they had seen, until the Son of Man had been raised from death. So they kept it to themselves. But they wondered what he meant by the words, “raised from death.” This is the Gospel the Lord. NB. All Readings are taken from the ‘Lectionary for Masses withofChildren’ canonically approved for use in the USA.