Children's Liturgy Guide

2nd Sunday of Advent

Year C · Advent

Get Ready for Jesus

Reading: Luke 3:1-6

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

John the Baptist told everyone to get their hearts ready for Jesus. He said to make the way smooth and straight, like fixing a bumpy road so someone special can come to visit.

Key Points

  • John the Baptist was sent by God to help people prepare for Jesus
  • The image of making paths straight means preparing our hearts
  • Advent is our special time to get ready for Jesus
  • Every person, everywhere, will see God's saving love

Background

This passage introduces John the Baptist's ministry, quoting Isaiah 40:3-5. The imagery of leveling mountains and filling valleys comes from ancient Near Eastern practice of preparing royal roads for a king's arrival. John calls people to interior conversion, removing obstacles in their hearts. The phrase 'all flesh shall see the salvation of God' emphasizes the universal scope of salvation history. For children, emphasize the concrete image of making a bumpy, crooked path smooth and straight, and connect this to preparing our hearts during Advent. Set aside the complex historical references to rulers and the theological weight of 'salvation of God' for now.

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 God, thank you for this special time of Advent when we get ready for Jesus. Help us to listen carefully today and to make our hearts ready to welcome him. 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 helped get ready for someone special to visit your house? What did you do to get ready?

Example: One time my grandma was coming and we cleaned up all the toys and my mom made cookies and I helped put flowers on the table.

Bridge to the reading: You worked hard to make everything nice for your special visitor. In today's reading, we hear about a man named John who told everyone to get ready for the most special visitor ever, Jesus, by making a path smooth and straight.

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. Who was telling people to get ready in today's reading?

    Example: John the Baptist was the one telling everyone to get ready because Jesus was coming soon.

  2. What did John say to do with the paths and roads?

    Example: John said to make the paths straight and to make the bumpy places smooth and flat.

  3. What would happen to the mountains and valleys?

    Example: The mountains would be made lower and the valleys would be filled up so everything was even.

  4. Why do you think John wanted everything to be smooth and straight?

    Example: I think he wanted it to be easy for Jesus to come and so everyone could see him without anything in the way.

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 does it feel when you know someone you love is coming to visit soon?

    Example: I feel really excited and happy and I keep asking when they are going to get here.

  2. If our hearts have bumpy parts like being grumpy or not sharing, what could we do to make them smoother?

    Example: We could try to be nicer and say sorry when we are mean and share our toys with our brother or sister.

  3. This week at home, what is one thing you could do to get your heart ready for Jesus at Christmas?

    Example: I could be extra kind to my little sister and help my mom without being asked to do it.

Recap

Today we heard about John the Baptist who had a special job. He told everyone to get ready for Jesus by making the paths straight and smooth. During Advent, we get our hearts ready for Jesus by being kind and fixing the bumpy parts inside us.

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 all the children who are trying to get their hearts ready for Jesus this Advent, 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 the Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass, we say 'Lord, have mercy' and ask God to help us fix what is crooked in our hearts, just like John asked people to make their paths straight.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Lord, for sending John to help people get ready for Jesus. Help us to make our hearts smooth and straight for you this Advent. 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

Get Ready for Jesus

Luke 3:1-6

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.

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

Words to find

  • John
  • prepare
  • path
  • straight
  • valley
  • mountain
  • smooth
  • Advent
  • ready
  • heart
  • Jesus
  • Baptist

ChildrensLiturgy.org