Children's Liturgy Series: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

In today's Gospel we learn about John the Baptist's first meeting with Jesus as an adult. He announces Jesus as the "Lamb of God". It is this testimony that brings Jesus his first followers. In the same way, we must also use our testimony to share the news of Jesus with our friends and family.

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 to understand your message for us today.  Help us to have the courage to tell others to follow you like John the Baptist did. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —,“where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —.Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

Ask the group to imagine that they are seeking information about a sports team or a club that they wish to join. 

Ask: What are some things that you could do to find out if this particular sport or club is something you want to be a part of? (Read information about the team or club, research what other people or organizations report about the team or club, talk to other people who have been part of the team in the past or who have been members of the club, or talk to current members.) Discuss which method of information gathering would be the most persuasive and helpful to our decision making.

Say: All the ideas you named would be helpful in providing the information you need. But the experiences of other people are often more persuasive than other forms of information. Advertisements are good examples of ways in which information is provided by presenting the experiences that people have had with a particular product. In today’s Gospel, we learn how Jesus’ first disciples learned about Jesus. 

Ask: Who does the Gospel say was the first to tell people about Jesus? (John the Baptist) Who was next? (Andrew and another disciple) Whom did Andrew tell? (his brother, Simon) The first community of Jesus’ disciples learned about Jesus from other people. When these people came to Jesus, they learned for themselves who Jesus was, and then they wanted to be his followers.

Say: This is one of the most important aspects of our faith. No one is a disciple of Jesus alone. To be a follower of Jesus is to be part of a community of disciples. Today we call that community the Church.

Conclude in prayer together that the Church will continue to witness to others all that we have learned about Jesus. Pray together the Apostles’ Creed.

Father in Heaven, thank you for bringing us together for this Children's Liturgy Lesson.  Help us to have the courage to be like Andrew and share our experiences with our family and friends so they can come to know Jesus.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.