Great Fast Week 3: Prodigal Son

OBJECTIVE

The gospel reading on the third Sunday of the Great Fast (Saint Luke 15:11-32) helps us experience the joy in heaven when one sinner repents. During the Great Fast, we sorrow for repentance; it is a sorrow, which produces repentance without regret, for it leads to salvation. It is a joyful sorrow, one in which we experience the joy of salvation (Ps. 51:12).

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Option One: Pig Scraps

For a few days before class, save your kitchen scraps in a sealable container. Tell the children that you have something in the container that somebody in one of our Lord Jesus Christ's parables really wanted to eat. Let them guess what it is. After they have guessed then open the container and let them see and smell the scraps. Introduce the story saying: "This is food scraps, something farmers may feed to pigs Why would someone want to eat this? Let's listen to the parable and find out . . ."

Option Two: Sing Together

Sing Yes, Jesus Loves Me together as a class. Try to add sign language to the lyrics to get them more involved.

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me (3x)

The Bible tells me so.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Please read the story of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15:11-32.

Memory Verse - "For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Luke 15:24

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

This story is written in the Gospel of Saint Luke, chapter 15. This Gospel was written to the Gentiles, that's why our Lord Jesus Christ meant every detail in the story.

This good father is God, the father who has two sons, the older & the younger. The older didn't leave the house but stayed there with spirit and attitude of servitude. This actually represents the Jews who knew God not as a father but as a master who gives orders and puts commandments.

Strangely enough, we find this older son giving his father a hard time during the celebration of the younger one's return. This is exactly what the Jews did in the early church time, they created trouble for the new believers in Christ.

The younger son did leave the house taking with him his share in his father's wealth, this represents us and all other nations who departed from God. The more we run away from God, the more this perfect image is greatly distorted, until finally he becomes indulged in this dirty job of feeding pigs.

Finding himself hungry, lonely, and left in such a miserable life, he decided to go back home. He did not know what his father's heart would be towards him.

When this prodigal son was still a great way off, his father saw him, ran and fell on his son's neck kissing and embracing, even before the words of repentance were uttered. This is the real demonstration of God's love to sinners Whatever dark past they may have lived, God will always rejoice in our return.

Immediately after this, the younger son confessed his sinful life and judged himself as unworthy. But the father's gifts started, the best robe which represents the robe of righteousness of the Baptism sacrament (Isaiah 61:10) , the ring which represents the seal of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation, and the eating of the fatted calf which represents the Eucharist, the body & the blood of Jesus Christ .

This eternal celebration never ends and will continue as long as more and more sinners return to God and repent.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Share the icon attached below with the children and ask them what they see. Encourage them to take a close look and share their observations. Some things to make sure are covered...

• The father is especially bigger than the son, because he symbolizes the love of our God for us.
• The son's clothes and hair are raggedy to show his distress.
• The servant in the corner is much better groomed than the son. He is holding the new robe and ring that the father wanted for his son (verse 22).
• In the background to the right, you can see a past scene of the son with the pigs.
• In the background to the left, you can see the father's house. He was watching and waiting for his son and ran to meet him a far way (verse 20).

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Even if we wander away from our Heavenly Father, and even if we journey to a far country, waste our possession with prodigal living, and become in need to eat the food that swine eat, yet we can look up to our Heavenly Father. The gospel tells us how the father received his returning son, "But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him."

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Option One: Coloring Page

Produce copies of "Coloring Page" in attachments below. Have the children write their names and decorate the paper as they please. Make sure they take it home to practice the memory verse throughout the week.

Option Two: Coloring Page II

You will need: markers/crayons, scissors, tape, and glue stick. Produce copies of "Coloring Page II" in attachments below. Have the children follow the directions at the top. Make sure they take it home to practice the memory verse throughout the week.

Option Three: Welcome Home Sign

You will need: popsicle sticks, glue, stickers, markers, buttons

1. Have the children line up six popsicle sticks in a neat row.
2. Next, have them glue two popsicles sticks across the row, one on top and one on bottom.
3. Now allow each child to decorate their "door" with stickers and write "Welcome Home".
4. Lastly, glue a button to create a doorknob.
5. Discuss how our Heavenly Father will always welcome us home with open arms

SERVANT RESOURCES

• Treasures of the Fathers, Essay on LACopts.org

Prodigal Son Cartoon, YouTube (about 5 mins)

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Now, during the Great Fast, is an especially apt time to "come to yourself" and meditate on your actions, just like the lost son. Schedule a time with Abouna to come to your home and give confession to your family members.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS