April 12 & April 19, 2020 Easter & 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)

SUNDAY GOSPEL Is Risen! Easter Sunday John 20:1–9 Alleluia! Narrator 1: Early in the morning wrappings that had covered Jesus’ on the first day of the week, while body lying on the ground. “ TAALLkk it was still dark, Mary Magdalene Narrator 1: Simon Peter came T ” came to Jesus’ tomb. She saw that along beside him and entered the 1 What do Mary Magdalene, the stone had been moved away tomb. He observed the wrappings the beloved disciple, and from the entrance, so she ran off on the ground and saw the piece Simon Peter see at the tomb? to tell Simon Peter and the other of cloth that had covered Jesus’ disciple whom Jesus loved. head. It was not lying with the 2 How do you think Simon Mary Magdalene: The Lord has wrappings but was rolled up in a Peter feels when he sees the been taken from the tomb! We place by itself. tomb? don’t know where they have put Narrator 2: Then the beloved him! disciple, who had arrived first at Catholic Narrator 2: Peter and the beloved the tomb, went in. FAITH WORD disciple started out on their way Beloved Disciple: I see, and I toward the tomb. They both ran, believe. but the beloved disciple outran Narrator 1: Remember, as yet EASTER The day the Church Peter and reached the tomb first. they did not understand the celebrates Jesus’ Resurrection. Easter He did not enter the tomb, but he Scripture that Jesus had to rise is the high point of the Liturgical Year. bent down to peer in and saw the from the dead.

PFLAUM GOSPEL WEEKLIES Faith Formation Program I’M GLAD YOU’RE SAD

My parents got the phone call was gone. Eventually, Toby’s about nine o’clock on Tuesday best friend, Adam, broke the night. I overheard them silence. wondering if school would be “Toby and I lived next door canceled. almost our whole lives,” Adam “Staying home won’t help, said. “Our moms joked that Monica,” my dad told my mom. they either had two sons or “It’s better to be with the none. We were always together, other kids,” my mom agreed. running through sprinklers, Why don’t you tell me what’s up? trying to make homemade I wondered. Then they did. lemonade, pranking our dads, My friend Toby had died in a turning trash day into ultimate car accident. He was thirteen, kickball...” like me. Toby and I lived next Adam’s voice stopped, and silence took over. He fiddled It wasn’t often that our door almost our with his knuckles. entire eighth-grade class whole lives. was quiet. But on Wednesday We sat at a table, blank looks morning we were. We sat staring all around. We all felt sad. A at our desks. Our class had only drunk driver had just killed twenty students. Now it had our friend. nineteen. Our English teacher, Toby was really Mr. Laker, scrapped his lesson good at ultimate plan for the day. “Some of you kickball. were friends with Toby, and for all of you, he was your classmate,” Mr. Laker said. He stopped and took a deep breath. “I think it might help to tell stories about Toby and remember him.”

The room stayed silent. No one wanted to share. He always tried to No one wanted to talk escape when we about Toby in the past weren’t allowed outside tense. No one wanted for recess. to be the first to say he 2 doesn’t make sense to be crying. We weren’t really friends, just I hope that Toby classmates. But now that he’s is still somewhere, gone, I feel sad he’s not here.” “It doesn’t matter how well that he didn’t just you knew him,” Adam said. “We stop existing. were a part of his life. And that’s important. I’m glad you’re sad.” “I’ve never really thought about Heaven before,” Tomás said. “It has to be real though. Then Tomás chimed in. Toby’s life can’t just be over. “Toby was really good at Maybe he’s up there right ultimate kickball even though now teaching all the Apostles I still think sometimes he “Yeah, we had to sit through how to play ultimate kickball.” cheated,” he said. the rest of the day and a big Everyone laughed, even Mr. Adam laughed at Tomás’s lecture in our soaking clothes,” Laker. dig. “For Christmas, his mom Claire said, grinning. “It was got Toby a SwitchTM to give worth it.” “That’s a wonderful picture,” him something to do inside. “I think we all got colds,” Mr. Laker said. “It’s OK not Even if it was raining like crazy, Adam joked. to have all the answers. Our Toby would be knocking on “Except for Toby,” Tomás religion leaves room for my window, trying to get me laughed. “Toby never got sick.” questions. Our faith tells us to come out in the rain and The room fell silent again. Toby is with . This circle the thunder. His mom hated it “I’m sad that I didn’t know right here,” he said, gesturing when he came in muddy and Toby better,” Mr. Laker said. to us in our seats, “is also what soaking wet.” “What do you think Toby’s religion is about. We can be Claire started to say doing right now? Do you think support together so we don’t something but had to clear her he’s in Heaven?” Mr. Laker feel alone. A big question like throat before she could make posed the question to the class. death doesn’t have an answer. words come out. “In elementary Everyone looked at each It’s where faith begins. Sharing school, he always tried to other. I suppose we all had helps us treasure Toby’s life escape when we weren’t allowed that question. Did we believe with us.” outside for recess. One time, he in Heaven? We go to Catholic “Do you guys remember succeeded.” She laughed. “The school. Most of us are Catholic. that time Toby brought his rat substitute teacher went to get Aren’t we supposed to believe in to show the preschool kids?” I something from the teacher’s it? I thought we did. But until heard myself say. lounge. As soon as he left, Toby now, I had never really thought led some of us outside to the about it. playground.” “I hope Heaven is real,” Wyatt “ TTAALLkk “I remember that!” Anne whispered aloud. ” pointed at Claire with a smile. “Why do you say that?” asked 1 When have you “I was too chicken to go outside Mr. Laker. experienced the loss of in the rain. The sub came back “Because I hope that Toby is someone close to you? What and freaked when half the class still somewhere. That he didn’t was it like? How did you find was missing. He tried to get us just stop existing.” support? to tell what happened, but we I saw a tear run halfway down 2 Why is it comforting to tell didn’t give them up. Another Wyatt’s face. stories about a person who teacher helped him. They found “I don’t feel like I knew has died? Toby and a bunch of us outside Toby very well,” Wyatt added, puddle jumping in the mud.” quickly wiping his cheek. “It 3 What do you believe about Heaven? 3 SUNDAY GOSPEL 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy) John 20:19–31 Mary Magdalene: I have seen the Lord. Jesus Appears to His Jesus Appears Again Narrator 2: On the evening of Friends and Disciples that first day of the week, even Note: The Gospel for the Second Jesus: Woman, why are you though the disciples had locked Sunday of Easter follows the weeping? For whom are you the doors of the place where they account of Jesus’ appearance to looking? were for fear of the officials, Jesus Mary Magdalene (John 20:10–18). Narrator 1: Mary thought Jesus came and stood before them. Narrator 1: Peter and the beloved was the gardener. Jesus: Peace be with you. disciple left, but Mary stood Mary Magdalene: Sir, if you have Narrator 1: When he had said weeping outside the tomb. As she carried him away, tell me where this, he showed them his hands wept, she bent over to look into you have laid him, and I will take and his side. The disciples rejoiced. the tomb. She saw two angels in him away. Jesus: Peace be with you. As the white, sitting where the body of Jesus: Mary! Father has sent me, so I send you. Jesus had been lying, one at the Mary Magdalene: Rabbouni! head and the other at the feet. Narrator 2: Then Jesus breathed Narrator 2: This word means on them. Angels: Woman, why are you “teacher.” weeping? Jesus: Receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus: Do not hold on to me If you forgive the sins of others, Mary Magdalene: They have because I have not yet ascended they are forgiven them; if you taken Jesus away, and I do not to the Father. But go to my friends hold them bound, they are held know where they have laid him. and say to them, “I am ascending bound. Narrator 2: Then Mary turned to my Father and your Father, to Narrator 1: It happened that one around and saw Jesus standing my God and your God.” of Jesus’ followers, Thomas (the there, but she did not know that it Narrator 1: Mary Magdalene went name means “twin”), was absent was he. and announced to the disciples: when Jesus came. and DOCTRINE Jesus Gives Us Joy and New Life “ On Good Friday, we feel the fear who became Easter people more ” 1 The Gospels of Jesus’ friends. They walked with than 2,000 years ago. we read during Holy Jesus, their good friend, and saw We celebrate both Jesus’ Week and Easter bring GOSPEL him beaten, bullied, and killed. Death and his Resurrection. “The up a lot of emotions On Easter Sunday, they find that Paschal Mystery has two aspects: even as we hear them he is not in the tomb, and they by his death, liberates us today. List examples of fear that his body has been stolen. from sin; by his Resurrection, how Jesus’ friends felt Imagine Mary Magdalene’s joy he opens for us the way to a throughout his Passion, when Jesus calls her name. Think new life” (CCC, 654). But the Death, and Resurrection. Connecting of the excitement when the Risen Easter story is not yet complete. 2 Imagine yourself as Jesus appears to his frightened God’s plan for our salvation one of Jesus’ friends and friends in the locked room. includes Jesus’ suffering, Death, followers. How do you The joy of Jesus’ rising is just as Resurrection, and his Ascension think you would have real on this Easter as it was the day to God in Heaven. This is why we reacted to the news he rose from the dead (CCC, 656). celebrate the Easter season for that Jesus was not in his We call ourselves “Easter people.” fifty days. tomb on Easter Sunday? We are connected to Jesus’ friends 4 Our Catholic Other Disciples: We have seen the

Lord! Easter Calls Us FAI H Thomas: I’ll never believe it without probing the nail prints in his hands, to Be Witnesses without putting my finger in the nail esus’ friends become Today, missionaries marks and my hand into his side. Jwitnesses of his continue throughout the Narrator 2: A week later, the disciples Resurrection to new life. world proclaiming the Good were once again in the room. This Mary Magdalene becomes News of Jesus’ Resurrection time, Thomas was with them. Despite Jesus’ first witness. When and its promise of new life the locked doors, Jesus came and she recognizes him in the for believers. Every Christian stood before them. garden near the tomb, Jesus who lives and loves like Jesus Jesus: Peace be with you. Take your sends Mary Magdalene to tell testifies to his new life. We finger, Thomas, and examine my his other disciples that he is become missionaries to one hands. Put your hand into my side. Do risen. another. not persist in your unbelief but believe! Mary Magdalene, Peter, Thomas: My Lord and my God! John, and later, Philip, Paul, What are ways that you and Jesus: You became a believer because Barnabas, Priscilla, Aquila, your family continue Jesus’ you saw me. Blessed are they who and countless others go tradition of forgiving and have not seen and have believed. from city to city, proclaiming making peace? the Good News of Jesus’ Narrator 2: Jesus performed other ______Resurrection. signs as well—signs not recorded ______here—in the presence of his disciples. esus’ friends hear Mary But these have been recorded to help ______Magdalene’s witness that you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, J she has seen Jesus, but they How can missionaries today the , so that through this are still afraid. Among them influence people to believe faith you may have life in his name. is Peter, who told people in Jesus? he didn’t know Jesus, and ___ By doing the good works “ AALkk the other disciples who fled Jesus did TT L ” for their lives when Jesus was arrested. Jesus comes ___ By living among people 1 How does Mary Magdalene among them and establishes as one of them, eating recognize Jesus? a tradition of peace. He what they eat, speaking 2 Why does Thomas refuse breathes the Spirit upon his the language they speak to believe Jesus is risen? What frightened friends, just as ___ By following Jesus’ way in causes him to change his mind? the Creator breathed the life how they live 3 What Church traditions for of God into the first human ___ By teaching them celebrating Easter help you being. Jesus forgives them understand your Christian faith? and commands them to What is a way you can be a become a community that missionary right now where

Gospel Weeklies The NEW forgives and makes peace. you live?

PFLAUM GOSPEL WEEKLIES Faith Formation Program HANDBOOK Easter Sunday is first and WHAT THE CHURCH BELIEVES AND TEACHES ______foremost about Jesus’ n early Christian times Resurrection. It also marks the Iand in courtrooms today, ______founding of Christianity. From witnesses speak face-to- ______face with listeners who can the moment that Jesus’ body ______is discovered missing from the tomb, judge how true their words his followers gather together. The word are. People throughout the church means “gathering.” Turn to page world believe the witnesses of 12 in What the Church Believes and Jesus’ Resurrection, like the Teaches to discover who belongs to the disciples believed Mary. Church, the Body of Christ. 5 Living the AtoZ G SPEL Jesus Crossword Puzzle ear the end of the Book and the Z, the one who shows completing the A-to-Z Jesus Nof Revelation, Jesus speaks us the meaning of human life Crossword Puzzle on these and says, “I am the Alpha and from the beginning of time to pages. The answers will begin the Omega, the first and the the end. with the same letters as the last, the beginning and the end” Review some of what you letters of the clues. Use the (:13). Alpha is the already know about Jesus Scripture references to help first letter of the ; and learn more about him by you. omega is the last. Jesus is the A

The mystery of the Risen Jesus The story of the life, Death, and The last letter of the Greek A leaving Earth to be with God. G Resurrection of Jesus. The word O alphabet. means “Good News” and is the Jesus praises people who are name of the first four books of the New A man or woman during the B poor, lowly, meek, merciful, Testament. P time of Israel’s kings who pure of heart, and hungry for spoke God’s word to the king justice in sayings that each begin with Jesus has two natures—one is and acted as Israel’s conscience, the words, “Blessed are ...” H divine; the other is ______. calling king and people to keep their (Matthew 5:3–12). covenant with God and care for the The mystery of God becoming poor. A humiliating form of public I human. C punishment the Romans used Governor of Syria when Jesus for slaves and non-Romans Catholics are Christians. Jesus Q was born (Luke 2:2). who committed terrible crimes such J was a ______. as murder, treason, and rebellion. The The mystery that describes way in which Jesus was executed. The Reign of God that Jesus R what Jesus’ Death and K came to establish on earth. We Resurrection do for all Israel’s greatest king and pray for its coming in the Our people. In Jesus’ time, the word D ancestor of Jesus Father or the Lord’s Prayer. meant paying a ransom. Today, (2 Samuel 7:8–16). it refers to trading coupons for A title for Jesus that honors merchandise (see Ephesians 1:7, 14). The sacrament that celebrates L his power and authority; it comes E Jesus’ body broken for us and from the Greek word . A sign that makes present blood poured out for us. Its S Jesus’ loving, healing, and name comes from the Greek word that A Hebrew word that means “the forgiving actions for us. means “giving thanks.” M anointed one” (Acts 2:36). The mystery of One God Trust in and commitment to a A word for the birth of Jesus. T in Three Divine Persons— F person; firm belief in someone N Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. or in truths.

CHRIST, the Alpha and the Omega, is the goal of HUMAN HISTORY, the focal point of the LONGINGS of history and of civilization, the CENTER of the human race, the JOY OF EVERY HEART, and the answer to all its yearnings. Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 45 6 I C O Z H M S B A X F K D J G L U N E P T W Q V

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The quality of being The word Christmas is U one, the state into X sometimes written this Find twenty-six index which the Kingdom of way because the letter FLASH CARDS cards. Cut out the definitions. Glue one each God will gather all people. chi, written like an English X, is on the cards. Print the corresponding letter the first letter of Christ’s name on the other side of each card. Divide into The mother of Jesus is in Greek. V often called the Blessed teams and see who can remember the most answers to the definitions. ___ Mary. The name for God that Y Moses learned when MOBILE Create a mobile with the names The practical God appeared to him of Jesus. Cut out artistic representations of W knowledge, in the burning bush. The name Jesus from earlier copies of Visions and other understanding, good means “the one who causes to magazines. Use the following names and judgment, and skill gained be.” others you know from songs and prayers: from the experience of living; the books of the A boy’s name that Jesus Christ that contain proverbs and Z comes from the name of Son of God Lord sayings about such practical the priest in the Temple Messiah Beloved Son experience. who did not trust the words of Savior Redeemer the angel Gabriel. Son of Man Alpha and Omega Answers are in the Teaching Guide. 7 Prayer Easter Faith Makes All Things New Gather in your church or in a prayer All: God makes all things space in your room. Place the Easter new. Rejoice! candle from church or another candle Reader 4: And sometimes, in the middle of your prayer space. God, we doubt like Have a large bowl of water ready to Thomas. We need to place on a table near the candle. Put see signs of Jesus’ love. a bouquet of flowers or a plant on Sometimes we need to the table. Then celebrate this Easter touch and feel Jesus prayer service together. working in us and Leader: Today we gather to through others. celebrate God’s love for us. All: Alleluia! Alleluia! Candle Lighter: We light our Jesus is risen. Easter candle. This candle Leader: We come with reminds us that God raised Jesus Jesus, our brother, to ask With My Family to new life. God to strengthen our faith and Friends All: Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus is and help us remember to risen. love others as Jesus loves us. Scan here for ➥ Let us pray the Lord’s Prayer parent resources. Water Bearer: (Places bowl of water together. on table.) This water reminds us of Baptism, when we become All: Our Father... Pray Alleluia! I am filled with members of God’s family. Water Bearer: (Holds up water joy that Jesus has been bowl.) All: Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus is raised from the dead. risen. All: You have blessed this Help me, God, to share Reader 1: Sometimes, God, water, God, through the power my joy with others. Amen. we believe like Jesus’ beloved of your Holy Spirit. We make disciple. We’re amazed by the the Sign of the Cross with this Think new life we see around us, and water to remember that we are How do I share the we are ready to believe. baptized and belong to your Good News of Jesus’ family. Resurrection with others? All: Sing a new song! Rejoice! All come forward and make the Reader 2: Sometimes, God, we Sign of the Cross after dipping Act have faith like Mary Magdalene. the fingertips of one hand in the We celebrate new life We hear Jesus calling us, and we water. at Easter. Many people believe. We know Jesus reaches celebrate the Sacraments out to us like a friend. Girls: God loves us and helps of Christian Initiation at us believe. All: We hear God’s voice. the Easter Vigil Mass. Say Alleluia! Boys: God gives us grace to live a prayer for the newly in his love. baptized members of your Reader 3: Sometimes, God, we parish and welcome them believe like Peter. We know Jesus All: Thank you, God. Amen. into your community. forgives us, and we believe. We Alleluia! gather together and praise Jesus’ Play and sing “Easter name. Alleluia” (Venture/Visions For free at-home Music CD, CD-2, #1). activities, visit gospelweeklies.com/seasonal Bayard supports Pope Francis’s call to care for our common home. Please share your copy of VISIONS with a friend or recycle it properly. Thank you.

Theological Reviewer: Reverend T. Martine, S.T.B, J.C.L. Publisher: David Dziena; Editor: Nicholle Check; Designer: Jennifer Poferl. Printed in the USA. VISIONS copyright © 2020 by Pflaum Publishing Group, a division of Bayard, Inc., sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Material in this issue may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or format without special permission from the publisher. Page 1 art: Marcelino Truong/Bayard; pages 2-3 photos: EDA; page 5: © Bayard Presse – Filotéo 243 – Illustration: Cléo Germain; page 6: NASA.org; page 8: Shutterstock.com/rodnikovay, EDA. 8