The Gospel reading on Palm Sunday-for Children.
This story is a child friendly version of the Gospel from Palm Sunday [Antiochian Orthodox Church in America]. The questions are to engage your children and have them think about this beautiful Feast.
Six days before the Feast of Passover, in the village of Bethany, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Then, Lazarus’ family made supper for Jesus. Martha served it and Lazarus was at the table with Him. Mary, the other sister in the family, took a pound of very expensive perfume. She poured it all over Jesus’ feet, then wiped His feet with her hair. The whole house smelled so nice!
Jesus’ disciple Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, rudely said, “Why wasn’t that perfume sold? The money could have been given to poor people.” (He did not really care about poor people—he just wanted the money, so he could steal it.) Jesus told him, “You will always have poor people with you, but you won’t always have me here!”
After that, a lot of Jewish people came. They wanted to see Jesus. They also wanted to see Lazarus, to see if he was really alive!
The next day, many people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took branches from palm trees and waved them to honor Him. They said, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” They kept saying this as Jesus rode by them, on the back of a donkey, all the way to Jerusalem.
Not until much later did Jesus’ disciples realize that the prophets had told what would happen on this day!
Discussion
1. What did Jesus do in Bethany, six days before Passover?
2. After they had supper together, what did Mary do? Do you think that was nice? Why or why not?
3. Did Judas think it was nice? Why or why not?
4. Where did Jesus go the next day?
5. As He went, the people called Jesus “the King of Israel.” What did they do to show honor to Him?
6. When you go to Divine Liturgy, listen closely. Do you hear the words that the people said to Jesus when He came near them on that day? We say (or sing) those words too, as He comes near to us! We sing: (I can get this hymn from the Liturgy book so don’t translate it!) Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth! Heaven and Earth are filled with your glory. O Hosana in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord. Hosana in the highest!
Craft: Palm Branches
You will need: green paper, string, glue or a stapler, and a rectangular piece of cardboard about 30 cm long and 8 cm wide (I will use cardboard from a pasta box or from a box of crackers)
On the green paper trace your child’s hand 12 times. (I chose 12 for how many Disciples were with Christ.)
Cut out the hands on the green paper.
Glue or staple the hand prints onto the piece of cardboard. Start at the top and spread them out on the cardboard. Leave about 3 cm of room at the bottom. This is so that your children will be able to hold their palm branch.
After you have glued or stapled all of the hand prints, tie some string or ribbon at the bottom of the palm branch.
I encourage you as a family on Palm Sunday, when you come home to shout and sing: “Hosana! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
We can use the bay leaves, like we get in Albania, or Palm Crosses, that we receive at Church in addition to these homemade palm branches.
Recipe: Lenten French Toast
On this day we are allowed to eat fish. But since we don’t eat much fish in our family, I like to make a special breakfast after church. This is a traditional American breakfast, but it is Lenten!
8 slices bread
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
Strawberries
Toasted almonds
Mix the milk, flour, vanilla extract, sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
Dip bread into mixture and place it directly onto a skillet and heat over medium-high and cook until both sides are cooked and light brown. Repeat the same process for all of the bread. Top the French toast with strawberries, toasted almonds, and a pinch of cinnamon. Enjoy!
We are about to embark on the most beautiful week of our Faith. Let us be like Mary, let us be attentive and focus on Christ despite the hectic and busy schedule of the week. As parents, and especially mothers, let us reflect on how this Holy Week will affect our children. Let us encourage them to live out their Faith, to focus on Christ, and to attend as many services as possible. May you have a Holy Week filled with love, patience, and especially strength.
Comments