A reading from the Gospel according to John 18:33b-37: The Roman govenor Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "Are you saying that I am or did other people tell you about me?" Pilot told Jesus that his own people handed Jesus over to him. Pilot asked, "What have you done?" Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." Pilot asked him again, "So, you say you are King?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. I came into the world, to tell the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Every year on the last Sunday before Advent (which means "coming"), we celebrate the feast day of Christ the King!
What is a king? (Leader of people, head of a royal family, lives in a palace, wears a crown, sits on a throne, lives in castles, are rich, rule over people etc.)
In today’s gospel reading we heard someone ask Jesus if he was a king. Do you remember who asked him? Yes, the governor Pontius Pilate. We learned that Jesus is a different kind of king, didn’t we? Yes! Do you remember what Jesus told Pilate about being a king? He told Pilate that he was not an earthly king. He is the king of heaven, our Lord and Savior. He came to teach us about God the Father’s love and forgiveness and to save us from our sins.
Jesus is a good king who loves His people so much that He died so we could go to heaven. He shows us how to live.
Gospel review questions:
1.
Who asked Jesus if He was a King? (The governor Pontius Pilate) 2. How is Jesus different from an ordinary human king? (Jesus was not an earthly king. He is the king of heaven, our Lord and Savior. He came to teach us the truth about God the Father’s love and forgiveness and to save us from our sins. He shows us how to live) 3. What can you do to show Jesus and others the He is the king of your life? (Pray every day, come to mass, give thanks to God each day, help others, show love and kindness to everyone, etc.) 4. What very special and joy-filled season of the Church’s calendar begins next Sunday? (Advent-which is the four weeks before Jesus’ birth)
Challenge this week:
Say grace before your Thanksgiving meal and before all meals using the prayer card that we make in class today, begin Advent coloring activity on November 28th at home. We begin with coloring the HOPE candle purple. Continue with Jesus and Me (JAM) by offering Jesus time, talent, and treasure!
(In-person CLW students are participating in an ongoing challenge where they will receive Jesus and Me envelopes to record how they shared their time, talent, and treasure with Jesus! Each week they will bring back the old envelope and receive a new one at the CLW table in the Narthex. During CLW class, we will talk about all the wonderful ways that the children have been using their gifts to help others.)