In today's Gospel, we learn about John the Baptist, and how his purpose was to prepare Israelites for the coming of the Lord. So as John the Baptist prepared the way for the Israelites, we too must prepare our hearts for the Lord in this time of Advent.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognize when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdVl12thQrQ (Accredited to Catholic Kids Media)
Say: During Advent, we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth. We do this by making good choices. When we make a poor choice, we can choose to turn back to God and ask for forgiveness. Today we will hear about John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord.
Say: We can prepare the way for the Lord by making good choices this Advent season. This way, we will have peaceful hearts. We’ll be ready to welcome Jesus when he comes. Take a few minutes to draw a picture of a good choice you will make to be a friend to others this Advent season. If you need another color, ask if you can swap crayons with another child. Give children time to draw and talk about their pictures.
Then say: Let’s pray for God’s help making good choices as we prepare to welcome Jesus.
Pray together that we will make good choices and tell God we are sorry for our poor choices. Share a sign of peace with one another.
Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, 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
