Children's Liturgy Series: 5th Sunday of Lent (Cycle C)

In today's Gospel we learn about God's abudant mercy for those that have fallen.  We learn that God forgives and gives second chances to those who are willing to repent. He also reminds us not to judge others before looking inward at ourselves first.

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. Fill our hearts with peace, love, and wisdom. Help us to understand the lesson you have us today and to be able to apply it in our own lives. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. 

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Question: Who brought the woman to Jesus, and what did they say she had done wrong?
Answer: The Pharisees and teachers of the law brought the woman to Jesus. They said she had committed a sin by breaking the law.

Question: What did the Pharisees want Jesus to do to the woman?
Answer: They wanted Jesus to judge her and decide if she should be punished.

Question: What did Jesus do when they asked him about the woman?
Answer: Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. Then he said, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

Question: What happened after Jesus said that?
Answer: The people who had accused the woman began to leave one by one, starting with the oldest, until only Jesus was left with the woman.

Question: What did Jesus say to the woman after everyone left?
Answer: Jesus asked her, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" When she said no one had, Jesus told her, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

Question: What lesson do we learn from this story about judging others?
Answer: We learn that before we judge others, we should look at ourselves and remember that we all make mistakes. We should be kind and forgiving, just like Jesus.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for giving us an example of how to avoid the temptation of judging others.  We know that before we judge others and accuse them of being bad, we must look at ourselves first and fix our own bad behaviour. Give us the humility to recognise our own faults and take action to be a better person. In doing so, it might inspire others to improve themselves as well.  We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.