Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 5th Sunday of Lent – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Ezekiel 37:12-14
  • Romans 8:8-11
  • John 11:1-45

“It’s time for the Letter ‘L’ Gospel!” Mom called out to her family.

“Huh?” everyone said, as they gathered themselves in the living room.  “What did you call this Gospel?”

“It’s the Letter ‘L’ Gospel!” Mom said again.  “The key points of this Gospel reading all begin with the letter ‘L.’  It’s going to be our job to listen for them!”

“Listen! … ” Vincent chirped in.  “The word listen begins with an ‘L’!”

“You’ve got it, Vincent!” Mom laughed.  “After we’ve heard your dad go through the reading, we’re going to try and list all the ‘L’ words.”

“List! … List begins with an ‘L’!” Vincent volunteered again.

“I think we all understand now, Vincent!” Mom chuckled again.

 “So, Martin, if you’re ready … let’s begin!”

“Let’s! … the word let’s begins … ” Vincent started saying until his mom gave him one of her “enough is enough” looks.

Dad read the Gospel of John, Chapter 11.  It was a longer reading, but the kids all paid close attention, listening for all the key “L” words. 

Soon, Dad closed his Bible and began, “Okay, who can tell me our first ‘L’ word?”  Dad asked.  “He was the central figure of this Gospel reading, and the one whom Mary and Martha called upon.”

Without hesitation, the kids all screamed out, “THE LORD!”

“Exactly right!” Dad agreed.  “Jesus, the Lord, works a miracle today in our Gospel reading.  Now who was the one brought back from the dead?  Remember, Jesus called for him to ‘Come out!’ “

“LAZARUS!” the family shouted again.

“You’re two for two!” Dad chuckled.  “So, Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead.  They say that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.  By performing this miracle, Jesus shows us that indeed He is the author of all … ” “LIFE!” they shouted. 

“Super!” Dad nodded.  “Now, a harder ‘L’ question.  Jesus talks about people stumbling in darkness because something was not in them.  What was that?”

“LIGHT!” they answered together.  Dad looked pleased.  The kids were paying very close attention.

“Okay, an easy one … ” Dad said, as he studied his Bible.  “You should all know this!  Jesus tells Martha … ‘I am the Resurrection and the … ‘ “  (John 11:25a)

“LIFE!”  everyone chimed.

Dad was enjoying this.  “Okay, one more!”  he said.  “Jesus shows us through the story of Lazarus that He is ‘the Author of Life,’ the ‘Resurrection and the Life,’ and the ‘Light of the world.’  Now, what motivates Jesus to want to teach us, die for our sins, and care what happens to us?  We can all say that it is because of His … “

“LOVE!” was heard, louder than the other answers.  “It was because of His LOVE!”

“Absolutely!” Dad smiled.  “You kids all did a great job on our Letter ‘L’ Gospel reading!  I think that just about wraps it up!”

“Wrong, Dad!” Vincent stated.  “There is one more ‘L’ word for this morning!”

“Hmmmmm … ” Dad said, thinking back on this lesson.  “Now, what could that be?”

“Well,” Vincent smiled, “looking at the clock and knowing what time Mass starts, I think it’s time we all LEAVE!”

And laughing at the lunacy, they left!

Jesus said, “ ‘I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’ “
(John 11:25-26)

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Cycle A, 5 Lent, SSSDownload

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