LIFE IN ABUNDANCE

• Objective:

REMEMBER AND THINK DEEPER ABOUT THE FACT THAT JESUS IS THE ENTRANCE TO ETERNAL LIFE.

• 1) Setting: 

In the notice board put the words: “JESUS WANTS US TO HAVE LIFE IN ABUNDANCE”. You can also put smiling faces of different people.

• 2) Greeting:

Dear children: I wish that Jesus gives you that life in abundance that only God can give you. Every day life will end  and we will go to heaven if we walk hand in hand with God.

• 3) Review of the commitment:

Would someone like to read what you wrote in your notebook? Did you make any changes?

• 4) PRAYER:

Make a prayer to thank God for your daily life.

 

• 5)  ACTIVITY

Draw a circle with a diameter of 30 to 40 cmts., in the middle of the room. Make three teams  organized in rows of two or three meters of distance from the circle. When the catchist indicates, each team, one by one, will try to hit  the center of the circle with a little ball made of paper. The team that has succeeded in with the most  balls are the winners.

After this, give to each group half of a sheet of bond paper, colors and markers to draw what the group interprets from the gospel that will be read:

• 6.- GOSPEL  Jn 10,1-10

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again to them, “ Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

• 7) REFLECTION

-What does Jesus say about himself?

-With whom does Jesus compare those who follow him?

-Who are those who will not enter through the door?

-What did Jesus say about the reason for his coming?

• 8) Enlightenment:

Jesus spoke to the FARISEOS telling them that he who does not enter through the door  is a thief and a bandit. He who enters through the door  is a real sheperd and all the sheep will follow him because they know his voice. Jesus identifies himself as a sheperd and as a door and he identifies those who follow him as sheperds too. The person who wants to spread the message of salvation must be like Jesus, otherwise, he will betray, kill and destroy the herd. We are Jesus’ sheep, we know his voice, but we don’t feel sure if we listen to those who are not like Jesus. Jesus finishes by saying that he has come for us to have life in abundance. That life in abundance will never end and we start living that life from now on being part of Jesus’ herd. As missionaires we have to invite others to be part of Jesus’ herd, taking them through the door for them to have life in abundance.

Now that we are reflecting and explaining today’s gospel, let us think about what we are going to draw. ( give the time for them to think and do their work.) 

• 9) Celebration: 

When all the work is finished, the children will be placed in a circle and a representative of each team will explain what they did. After that, each one will thank Jesus for all that we    have learned today and ask for something that she/he thinks is necessary.

At the end sing a song. (choose the song before hand)

•  10) Commitment:

-Talk to other people about Jesus, that He is our Saviour, that he gives us joy and hope.

-We will pray for all missionaries that suffer persecution, because they teach the way to Jesus.