Our lives are full of change. This is the nature of human existence. Things changed as well for Jesus’
disciples in the week before he died. On Palm Sunday, he was welcomed into Jerusalem as a revolutionary, as one who came “in the name of the Lord.” On Good Friday, the crowds were chanting, “Crucify him!” It must have felt like a definitive ending for the disciples as their friend and leader was sentenced to death and then suffered and died one of the cruelest deaths imaginable. And then, how things changed for them on Easter Sunday! What didn’t seem possible suddenly was reality. Not even death could conquer the Son of God.
Christianity is overflowing with hope, for we can say that when it gets so bad that even God himself can be killed, something good can happen. God can take an impossible situation and make it better than we could have even imagined. Before Christ, human beings were the highest of creatures God created—the ones he called “very good” (Genesis 1:31), but through Jesus’ death and Resurrection, we are given the opportunity to be joined to Christ in the Paschal Mystery through Baptism, and we become more than God’s favorite creations, we become his sons and daughters.
In my life, when have I seen God act in an unexpected way to bring joy and hope from a situation that seemed hopeless?
Happy Easter!
OSV Easter Resources»
Activity One: (Grades K-5): Easter Activities (PDF file)»
Activity Two (Grade 6 and up): The Liturgical Year (from The Catholic Almanac)»
Teacher Pattern: Easter Coloring Activity from Allelu! Placemat (PDF)»
Living Catholic Stewardship for Kids: Kids Corner Easter Word Scramble»
Soul Food for Teachers: The Fullness of Truth (excerpt)»
Catechist Know-How: From Mary Lou Rosien, "Squeezing lemons for lemonade"»
We hope these new resources will continue OSV's mission of bringing your Catholic faith to life!
Email me at ddziena@osv.com to share your suggestions. You can also become a fan at our new page on Facebook!
May God bless you!
Dave
Sign up for a monthly update email reminder here»
OSV is Twittering! www.twitter.com/osv»
Don't forget to go to our Catholic Links page to help you with all things Catholic! Just click here for Catholic Links»
To link to Teaching Catholic Kids, use: www.teachingcatholickids.com.
For past months of Teaching Catholic Kids, click here»
Email Dave Dziena, TCK editor: ddziena@osv.com.
Prayer
An Easter Prayer
Heavenly Father and God of mercy,we no longer look for Jesus among the dead,for he is alive and has become the Lord of life.
From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us.
Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
This prayer is from the OSV prayer card for Easter. More information here»
Catholic Faith Resources | For Catholic Parishes | Order OSV Products | RSS | Advertise | About Us | Contact Us | Jobs Copyright © 1996-2013, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright information | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy