Family Ministry Elementary Department

FAMILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONDECEMMBER 1, 20191st SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Don Bosco Makati Parents are “evangelizers” and “educators”

THINGS TO PREPARE AT HOME:

1. Sacred space (crucifix and candle)2. Printed copy of the Family Gospel

Reflection3. Laptop or tablet for the Family Gospel

Reflection pdf presentation (optional)4. Simple salo-salo after the Family

Gospel Reflection (optional)

FAMILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONGrades 3-6 Parents will facilitate a family Gospel Reflection every Saturdays or Sundays before attending mass.

PART I: OPENING PRAYERPART 2: GOSPEL LEARNINGPART 3: GOSPEL READINGPART 4: LIVING THE GOSPELPART 5: TRIVIAPART 6: CLOSING PRAYER

FAMILY GOSPEL REFLECTIONDECEMBER 1, 2019

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

OPENING PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

We are so excited about Christmas coming! Please help us prepare for your coming.

In your name we pray.

Amen.

GOSPEL LEARNING

The Gospel reading today comes from St. Matthew. Today is the beginning of the Advent season and the start of a new “Liturgical Year”. Jesus tells his disciples to, “Stay awake!” We never know when Jesus will return in glory, so we should use Advent as our season to prepare ourselves to welcome the Christ child at the Christmas season.

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 24: 37-44

“The Necessity for Watchfulness”

Source: New Testament Pinoy Version Catholic Edition

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

36 “Walang nakakaalam kung kelan ang araw at oras na yun, kahit ang mga angels sa langit o ang Anak. Ang Ama lang ang nakakaalam. 37 Dadating ang Son of Man na kagaya sa nangyari nung panahon ni Noah. 38 Nung mga araw bago dumating ang baha, kumakain at umiinom ang mga tao, at nagpapakasal ang mga lalaki at babae, hanggang sa mismong araw na sumakay si Noah sa barko. 39 Wala silang kamalay-malay sa mga nangyayari hanggang sa dumating ang baha at tinangay silang lahat. Ganito din ang mangyayari pagdumating ang Son of Man.

40 Sa time na yun, may dalawang babaeng nagtatrabaho sa gilingan ng palay, kukunin ang isa at maiiwan naman ang pangalawa. 41 May dalawang babaeng nagtatrabaho sa gilingan ng palay, kukunin ang isa at maiiwan naman ang pangalawa. 42 Mag-ready kayo, kasi hindi nyo alam kung kelan dadating ang Panginoon. 43 Di ba, kung alam ng may-ari ng bahay kung kelan dadating ang magnanakaw. Siguradong magbabantay sya para di mapasok ang bahay nya? 44 Kaya dapat lagi kayong handa kasi dadating ang Son of Man sa oras na di nyo ine-expect.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

LIVING THE GOSPEL

1. SITUATION

Why do you think the Gospel mentioned about the story of Noah? What did Jesus mean when he talked about people guarding their house against thieves? When was the time you experienced being “on guard” and “alert”? What happened?

LIVING THE GOSPEL

2. GOSPEL THEME

The Gospel mentioned about the story of Noah because Jesus was describing how people would be acting when he returned to earth.

Jesus also talked about people guarding their house against thieves because he wants to send the message that one never knows when a robber would come.

You have to be ready. We have to make our hearts ready when Jesus comes because we don’t know when that will be. We recognize that Jesus is a very important part of our lives and we want to be the very best people we can be for Him. We want him to be proud of us. We want to make him happy and be like him.

LIVING THE GOSPEL

3. GOSPEL CHALLENGE

Good deeds and sacrifices are the best present we can give to Jesus for his birthday! As a family, set up a simple empty manger at home. Each time someone in the family does a good deed or makes a sacrifice, he or she gets to place a piece of straw in the manger. With each piece of of straw added to the manger, Jesus has softer place to lay for Christmas morning.

TRIVIA: SON OF MAN

Among the many ‘titles’ which Gospel writers refer to Jesus or even Jesus to himself, the title Son of Man, in reference to Christ, appears 80 times in the New Testament: 32 times in Matthew’s Gospel, 14 times in Mark’s, 26 in Luke’s and more or less 10 in John’s. Also, the title the “son of Man” appears most notably in the books of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel.

Source: Halo Sambuhay for Kids

CLOSING PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

Help us to stay awake as we prepare ourselves for your two-fold coming - your birth on Christmas night and your second coming.

In your name we pray.

Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be...

Suggested Family Practices:

1. Attending Sunday mass.2. Family Gospel Reflection3. Family Movie Night

(FORMED Movies) 4. Family Monthly Confession