3rd Week of Easter, Friday

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

"my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink. 
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood 
lives in me
and I live in him."

(From the Gospel) 

(Read the quote, then each line slowly, with pauses to allow the children (and us!) to reflect on the questions.)

Do you remember what we talked about yesterday?

We talked about how, at Mass, the bread become Jesus' Body and the wine become Jesus' Blood.

Do you remember the special words that make this happen? 

They are the Words of Consecration.

And do you remember the really long word that means that the bread and wine have become Jesus' Body and Blood?

Transubstantiation. That's a hard word to say!

Today, Jesus tells us more about how important it is to eat His Body and drink His Blood. 

He says, "my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink."

What do you think He means by "real"? The word "real" has more than one meaning. I wonder which one He means here?

Then He says, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him."

When we eat Jesus' Body and drink His Blood, He comes to live in us, and we go to live in Him, too!

There's something very amazing about eating Jesus' Body. Normally when we eat, the food becomes part of us. But when we eat Jesus' Body, we become part of Him! We become more like Him every time we eat His Body!

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us Your Body to eat and Your Blood to drink. Thank you that we can become more like You, part of You, every time we receive You at Mass. Help me to prepare my heart very well to receive You when it is my time.

(Allow any spontaneous prayers, perhaps leading by example. 3-6 year olds relate most naturally to God through prayers of praise and thanksgiving; 6+ will have started thinking about their needs and the needs of those around them in prayers of intercession. Some children may also just want quiet time to speak with God in their hearts.)

(Sing a simple hymn or chant if your children like singing. Or even if they don't ;) This can also be done at the beginning. )

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."