Primary Session
John 4:5-42
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Dear God, thank you for helping us to grow.
Help us to grow in faith.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
The image for today’s session is water. Invite the children to make a collage of living things. Provide pictures from used cards or magazines, glue, and a large sheet of poster paper. Invite the children to cut out pictures of living things and glue them to the poster paper. Leave room on the bottom of the paper. Then brainstorm with the children how living things grow. Write down their responses on the bottom of the poster paper. Discuss:
- What do you need in order to grow?
- How does water help all living things grow?
- Who are the people in your life who help you to grow?
- How does God help you to grow as a child of God?
Allow time for discussion. During the season of Lent we are reminded that we need God’s gift of faith to grow as God’s children.
Listening to the Word of God
In the Gospel today listen to find out how Jesus helps a Samaritan woman grow in faith.
Read John 4:5-42.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
- Where does Jesus meet the Samaritan woman?
- What does Jesus ask the woman for?
- What kind of water does Jesus offer the woman?
- Does the woman accept Jesus’ gift?
- What does she do next?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel using the Catechist Background section.
In today’s Gospel Jesus helps a woman to grow in faith. Jesus and the woman from Samaria meet at Jacob’s well. The woman is there to get water. When the woman first meets Jesus she is cautious. She questions Jesus when he asks her for a drink. Jesus does not give up on the woman. He offers her something more than the water from Jacob’s well. Jesus helps the woman see that she needs the living water of God’s love.
Jesus alone can give this gift of life-giving water. The woman opens her heart to Jesus’ gift and she recognizes him as the Messiah. With her heart filled and her thirst quenched, the woman goes off to tell others about Jesus.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
- How does Jesus help the woman to grow as a child of God?
- Who are the people that tell you about Jesus?
- How can you tell others about Jesus?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Faith as a Gift
Faith is a gift from God. Faith is our response to God’s action in us. In other words, God acts first. The Catholic term for God’s action is grace. God invites us to live as God’s children. We have the freedom to accept or reject this offer.
God prepares us for this relationship in love. Every person has an inner thirst for God. When we accept God’s gift of faith we satisfy this thirst.
- What is faith?
- What is grace?
- How does faith help us live as God’s children?
The Gospel in Life
How can you grow in faith during the season of Lent?
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