Children's Liturgy Series: 5th Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)

In today's Gospel, Jesus foretells his death and how he will glorify God. God's voice is heard by the people to validate what Jesus said.

Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.Whoever loves his life loses it,and whoever hates his life in this worldwill preserve it for eternal life.Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Say: There is a question that we sometimes hear people ask, “What’s in it for me?” Have you ever heard someone ask that question, or have you ever asked that question yourself? What are some of the situations in which you have heard this question? What does it mean? (Offer examples)

Ask: Having heard this Gospel, what do you think Jesus might say about the question? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

Say: “What’s in it for me?” is the wrong question for followers of Jesus. Jesus certainly didn't ask this question as he journeyed to the cross. What does today’s Gospel tell us Jesus was thinking about when he thought about his death on the cross? (his Father, God; all sinners; the entire world) Jesus teaches his disciples that those who want to follow him must serve others, thinking about others’ needs before their own.

Say: We are approaching the end of Lent. What might you do between now and Easter to show your willingness to follow Jesus in this way? 

Conclude in prayer together, asking God to help you honor your commitment to follow Jesus by putting others’ needs before your own. 

Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen