In today's Gospel we hear the story about John the Baptist, and how upon approaching, he announced Jesus as the lamb of God.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me. ’I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with waterwas that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heavenand remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. ’Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKQ3pW1an2A (Accredited to Catholic Kids Media)
Show the children signs that read - Stop, Keep Right, One Way, Do Not Litter, and Don’t Walk; pictures of a lamb and a dove
Ask the children to explain the meaning of each sign as you show it.
Then show a picture of a lamb and ask them whether they know what it represents. (gentleness, innocence) Show a picture of a dove and see whether they know that it represents peace.
Say: The dove represents peace because back when God told Noah to build the ark and it rained for such a long time, Noah knew the land was finally drying up because he sent a dove out and it did not come back. It landed on a tree branch, which meant that the flood water had gone down far enough for the tree to be above it. The punishment of the flood was over.
Explain that when the dove landed on Jesus, it was a sign that Jesus would bring peace. Ask: What kind of peace did John the Baptist say that Jesus would bring? (John said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.) Say: And Jesus did just that . . . he died for our sins and brings us the peace of knowing that we are friends again with God.
Pray that we will recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins and the sin of the world. Then pray together the Lord’s Prayer.
Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
