Children's Liturgy Guide

3rd Sunday of Lent

Year A · Lent

Jesus Gives Living Water

Reading: John 4:5-42

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Jesus meets a woman at a well and asks her for a drink of water. He tells her about special water that He gives, living water that fills our hearts forever and never runs out.

Key Points

  • Jesus offers living water, which means His love and life that fills us up inside
  • Jesus talks to everyone, even people others might ignore
  • The woman was so excited about meeting Jesus that she ran to tell everyone
  • Jesus knows everything about us and loves us anyway
  • Baptism gives us the living water Jesus talked about

Background

This lengthy Gospel recounts Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. Jews and Samaritans had deep historical animosity, and rabbis typically did not speak publicly with women. Jesus breaks both social barriers. The theological heart is Jesus's offer of living water, a metaphor for the Holy Spirit and eternal life that satisfies the deepest human thirst. The woman's progression from skepticism to belief to missionary witness models conversion. For children, emphasize the simple image of Jesus offering special water that fills our hearts with His love forever, and the woman's joy in telling others about Jesus. Set aside the complex discussion of worship on mountains, the woman's marital history, and Samaritan-Jewish tensions.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us so much. Help us to learn about the special gift You want to give us today. We love You, Jesus. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever been really, really thirsty? What did it feel like, and what did you want?

Example: One time I was playing outside in the sun for a long time and my throat felt so dry, and all I wanted was a big cold glass of water!

Bridge to the reading: Being thirsty is not a good feeling, and we really want that water! In today's reading, Jesus meets a woman who came to get water from a well, and He tells her about a very special kind of water that can fill up her heart forever.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Where did Jesus meet the woman in the story?

    Example: Jesus met the woman at a well, which is a deep hole in the ground where people get water to drink.

  2. What did Jesus ask the woman for at the beginning?

    Example: Jesus asked the woman if she could please give Him a drink of water because He was thirsty.

  3. Jesus told the woman about a special kind of water. What did He call it?

    Example: Jesus called it living water, and He said it was different from regular water because it lasts forever.

  4. What did the woman do after she talked to Jesus?

    Example: The woman was so excited that she left her water jar and ran back to her town to tell everyone about Jesus.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the woman felt when she found out Jesus knew all about her and still loved her?

    Example: I think she felt really happy and surprised because Jesus was so kind to her even though He knew everything about her.

  2. Jesus wants to fill our hearts with His love. What can you do to let Jesus into your heart?

    Example: I can talk to Jesus when I pray and tell Him I love Him, and I can try to be kind like He is.

  3. The woman told everyone about Jesus. Who could you tell about Jesus this week?

    Example: I could tell my friend at school about Jesus or I could tell my little brother a story about Jesus at bedtime.

Recap

Today we heard about Jesus meeting a woman at a well. Jesus told her about living water, His special love that fills our hearts forever and never runs out. The woman was so happy she ran to tell everyone about Jesus!

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For children who feel empty or sad inside, that Jesus will fill their hearts with His love and living water, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

During Baptism, the priest pours water over the baby's head. This water is a sign of the living water Jesus gives us, washing away sin and filling us with God's life.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank You, Jesus, for giving us Your living water. Help us to share Your love with everyone we meet this week. Fill our hearts with Your joy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Gives Living Water

John 4:5-42

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

G J Q U H E A R T X E N P R N
E G B N Y T W Z X N V M S M Z
U A B M I E W E L L O M B J O
T P J R X L W H F X L O T E E
U T A D L L E T K L A L B S X
U T T K M B E K X Y I V I U A
W Z H U D L N Z D V A H Y S R
B D C I Y R L N I M Q U O T G
C Z E R R N X N X X W U X J I
L G D E M S G D W O M A N C F
E D J N A U T Z A O N S B J T
A E R O T A Y Y R E T A W F F
N Y J I Y E V U N K W L R C F
E A G K N C Z N L P D F Z F R
F G D W J K B H S R G A Y S Q

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • woman
  • well
  • water
  • living
  • thirsty
  • love
  • heart
  • drink
  • tell
  • joy
  • gift

ChildrensLiturgy.org