Children's Liturgy Series: 1st Sunday in Advent (Cycle B)

In today's lesson, Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful because no one but God will know the time when the Son of Man will come again.

Father in heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together for this Children's Liturgy lesson. Please send us the Holy Spirit. Help us to have the wisdom and courage to recognize those in need and help them in ways that we can. Help us to always be prepared for the day Jesus returns. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Say: There are many events that we need to get ready for 

Ask: What are some events you need to get ready for? (Examples might include going to school in the morning, participating in a sporting event, going to a birthday party, going to bed at night.) Then invite children to tell you things they’d do to get ready if a friend were coming for a sleepover. After children share their ideas, 

ask: What would you do if you didn’t know when, or even which day, your friend was going to arrive for the sleepover? (Answers might include get ready early, keep my room clean, and watch at the window.) 

Say: We would want stay ready for our friend’s visit and watch out for his or her arrival!

Say: Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Ask: Does anyone know what we prepare to celebrate during Advent? (Jesus’ birth) 

Say: During Advent, we also remember that we are to be ready for something else—the time when Jesus will come again in glory. Jesus’ disciples asked him when this would happen. Listen carefully to hear his response.

Say: Only God the Father knows when Christ will come again. In the meantime, Jesus tells us to be watchful and alert. We look for signs that he is with us. We get ready to receive him by following him every day. We pray, read the Bible, follow God’s commandments, and love God and one another. 

Ask: What is something you do to be ready to receive Jesus? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
Close by praying: Jesus, help us always be ready to welcome you into our hearts. Then pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

Father in Heaven we thank you for the lesson today. Please bless each one of us in this room. Please give us the grace to have the courage to show our love to God by loving others. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.