You don't have to do all of these at one time. Consider how you might do parts of it throughout the week.
ENGAGE
LEADER:
Have someone read aloud Matthew 28:1-10:
Have someone read aloud Matthew 28:1-10:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (Matthew, Chapter 28, verses 1-10)
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” |
In your own words, tell your family:
We’re going to role play. Imagine that you are one of the eleven disciples on Sunday morning after Good Friday. Mary Magdalene and another Mary come and tell you that they went to Jesus’ tomb and he wasn’t there but an angel was. And the angel said for you to go to Galilee and Jesus will meet you there. And then the women say Jesus himself said for you to go to Galilee and you will see him. How do you feel when you hear this news? Brainstorm possible responses to this news. |
By Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18885880
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EXPLORE
With all those feelings and maybe more, they went to Galilee. Here’s what happened then:
Have someone read Matthew 28:16-20.
Have someone read Matthew 28:16-20.
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 28: 16-20)
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” |
EXPERIENCE
Discuss as a group what Matthew recorded as the responses of the eleven disciples.
How does this description match up with what you had brainstormed?
In this account, the apostles worship and doubted and were commissioned by Jesus.
This great commissioning of the eleven was the beginning of the mission of the apostles out into the world.
Because the apostles spread the good news, first in their own country and then in others, people from every race and every culture have become a people who belong to God in Jesus Christ.
The Great Commission is also for us as the mission of the Church continues today.
Our family and each baptized person are called to look for ways to bring the good news of Jesus everywhere we are.
We can do this in simple ways by being faithful to what Jesus taught us.
(from: “Act on it!,” in The Catholic Faith and Family Bible, Harper Catholic Bibles, Center for Ministry Development, & Our Sunday Visitor, 2010, p. 1238.)
Pick out from these commands of Jesus the three that as a family you would like to work on together in this Easter season.
(In 2022, Easter lasts until June 5.)
How does this description match up with what you had brainstormed?
In this account, the apostles worship and doubted and were commissioned by Jesus.
This great commissioning of the eleven was the beginning of the mission of the apostles out into the world.
Because the apostles spread the good news, first in their own country and then in others, people from every race and every culture have become a people who belong to God in Jesus Christ.
The Great Commission is also for us as the mission of the Church continues today.
Our family and each baptized person are called to look for ways to bring the good news of Jesus everywhere we are.
We can do this in simple ways by being faithful to what Jesus taught us.
(from: “Act on it!,” in The Catholic Faith and Family Bible, Harper Catholic Bibles, Center for Ministry Development, & Our Sunday Visitor, 2010, p. 1238.)
Pick out from these commands of Jesus the three that as a family you would like to work on together in this Easter season.
(In 2022, Easter lasts until June 5.)
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 Do for others what you want them to do for you. Matthew 6:12 |
Stop judging and you will not be judged. Luke 6:37 Whatever you did for the least important among you, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. Matthew 5:39 |
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27 If you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me. Luke 9:27 |
APPLY
Use string or yarn or chenille stems (pipe cleaners) three colors per person.
Think of a way to make each color you choose remind you of each commandment you chose above Form your materials into a bracelet that you can wear to remember those specific teachings, because Easter people live out Jesus’ teachings in the world. |