Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Luke 24:35-48
Jesus appears again to his disciples and shares a meal with them.

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, and 3)

Younger children have likely shared special meals with their families. Teach them that Jesus shared meals with his disciples, and that he gave us a mission to tell others about his life, death, and Resurrection. Introduce children to an age-appropriate way to witness to Christ.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Tell children about a special meal you shared with your family and what you talked about as you ate and celebrated together. Invite children to share stories about special meals they have had with their families, perhaps at Christmas and Easter and on other important days. Ask them what foods they ate and what they talked about.
2. Say: Jesus shared meals with his disciples. Today we’ll hear about a meal that Jesus and his disciples shared together after Jesus rose from the dead.
3. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Luke 24:35–48.
4. Say: Jesus appeared to the disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” At first the disciples were terrified, but then they were joyful and amazed when they recognized Jesus. Ask: What did the disciples give Jesus to eat? (fish) Say: After he ate, Jesus gave the disciples a mission, to tell other people about his life, Death and Resurrection and his message of God’s love and forgiveness. When we are old enough, we receive a special meal during Mass. Ask: What is this meal? (Holy Communion, the Eucharist) Say: Jesus is present to us when we celebrate this Sacrament, and we receive God’s grace to help us tell others about him.
5. Ask: What is something you heard in today’s Gospel that you would like to share with your family when you eat together today? (Accept reasonable responses.)
6. Close by praying a prayer of thanks for the meals we share with our families. Ask Jesus to help you share his message with everyone who wishes to hear it. Then pray the Sign of the Cross.

Gospel Reading
Luke 24:35-48
Jesus appears again to his disciples and shares a meal with them.

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, and 6)

Older children are learning to take on greater responsibilities for daily tasks. As they do, they can also be led to take on greater responsibilities for witnessing to Christ in our world.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask the children to recall a time when they were sent somewhere with a task. Ask them if there are tasks that they can take on now that would have been impossible for them to do when they were younger.

2. Say: Just as we can accept greater responsibility for everyday tasks as we grow up, the Church recognizes that we can accept greater responsibility as witnesses to Jesus as we mature. But what kinds of tasks are we called upon to do as disciples of Jesus?

3. Say: Today's Gospel helps us to answer this question because it tells us what Jesus sent his disciples to do after his Resurrection. Let's listen carefully to this Gospel.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today's Gospel, Luke 24:35-48.

5. Ask: What does this meal that Jesus shared with his disciples remind you of? (the Eucharist; the Mass) After sharing this meal, what mission did Jesus give to his disciples? (to be witnesses to Jesus, especially by preaching forgiveness of sins in his name) Say: We also share a meal with Jesus that gives us a mission when we celebrate the Mass.

6. Ask: What are the final words of the Mass? (Go in peace to love and serve the Lord; Thanks be to God.) This dismissal reminds us that the Eucharist sends us to be witnesses to Jesus today, especially by helping others know that Jesus forgives sins. What are some ways in which we might help others know that Jesus forgives sins? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

7. Conclude in prayer together that our frequent celebration of the Eucharist will help us choose to teach others about the forgiveness of sins we receive from Jesus. Pray together a Prayer for Vocations.

Gospel Reading
Luke 24:35-48
Jesus appears again to his disciples and shares a meal with them.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Healthful food is important for our physical nourishment, but gathering for meals nourishes us in other ways as well. Our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist nourishes us and strengthens us to be his witnesses.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Invite the young people to recall a recent holiday or celebration that included special food. Ask them to describe favorite aspects of gathering with family or friends for this meal. Observe that food is important for our physical nourishment, but gathering for meals nourishes us in other ways as well. Ask the young people to identify some of the benefits of sharing meals with others and write these ideas on the board.

2. Say: In the Gospel of Saint Luke, there are many descriptions of meals that Jesus shared with others. At these meals, the disciples were given food and more. This Sunday we hear about a meal that Jesus shared with his disciples after his Resurrection. Let’s listen carefully to this Gospel.

3. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 24:35–48.

4. Ask: After sharing this meal, what does Jesus tell his disciples? (They are to be witnesses to all that Jesus said and did.) How did sharing this meal with Jesus strengthen the disciples to be his witnesses? (Accept all reasonable answers, such as they knew that Jesus was not a ghost, but was truly present with them, and their minds were open to understand the Scriptures.)

5. Say: We also share a meal with Jesus and are given a mission to be his witnesses when we celebrate the Mass. Ask: What are the final words of the Mass? (“Go in peace to love and serve the Lord; Thanks be to God.”)

6. Say: These final words of the Mass remind us that the Eucharist sends us to be witnesses to Jesus today, especially by helping others know that Jesus forgives sins. What are some ways in which we might help others know that Jesus forgives sins? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

7. Conclude in prayer together that our frequent celebration of the Eucharist will help us choose to teach others about the forgiveness of sins we receive from Jesus. Pray together the Psalm for this Sunday, Psalm 4.

Gospel Reading
Luke 24:35-48
Jesus appears again to his disciples and shares a meal with them.

Family Connection

Family life is strengthened through storytelling and shared meal times. In a similar way, Christian life is sustained by God’s word in Scripture and by Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. We are especially sustained in our faith through our weekly celebration of Mass. Today’s Gospel reading reminds us that the Scripture and the Eucharist are given to us so that our acts of bearing witness to Christ might be strengthened.

As you gather as a family, ask each person to share their favorite story about your family. Talk about the importance of these memories about your family life and the importance of the meals you have shared together as a family. Recall that these stories and meals strengthen the love you share. In a similar way, our Christian life is strengthened by sharing God’s Word and the Eucharist at Mass. Read together today’s Gospel, Luke 24:35-48. Discuss the mission that Jesus gave to his disciples after their shared meal. The Eucharist also sends us to be Christ’s witnesses in the world today. Conclude by praying together that we will be strengthened by God’s word and by Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist to be witnesses to Christ. Pray together Tantum Ergo or today’s psalm, Psalm 4.