4th Sunday in Lent

Year A:  March 26, 2017

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

…and Nick by Emily Gore

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: Educator Carolyn Brown  points out that “children who feel themselves always ‘less than’ their older siblings love this story!” …and Nick is another story of a brother who feels less than his siblings. Much like David’s being chosen to be king surprised his family, Nick’s story ends with a surprise, too, and a reminder that people and things are sometimes more than they seem.

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14

The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: This brief text calls us to reflect upon what is pleasing to the Lord, to seek God’s will, and live a life submerged in light, even when we are surrounded by darkness. Bogart’s retelling of an old Irish poem gives us an illustration of a monk studying scripture late into the night while his cat chases mice. As the monk and his cat greet the new day, the monk finds what he has been seeking: light in the darkness. This text and story invite us to wonder what light in the darkness looks like in our own lives.

Gospel Reading:John 9:1-41

It’s Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr

(Written for ages 3-7)

Comment: Rev. Gunnar Cerda reflects upon this text through the lens of having a child with disabilities. Cerda suggests we are invited to live as Jesus does, “[co-creating] a new future with God, one where those who have been outcast are re-integrated into the beloved community of caring.” Parr’s colorful book is a vision of a beloved community that embraces differences. As you read this text and story, wonder together about the work your church does to create a beloved community where it’s ok to be different and all are welcome.

Thanks to Noell Rathbun, Union Presbyterian Seminary alumna and minister of children, families and liturgical arts at Grace Baptist Church, Richmond, VA, for writing the Revised Common Lectionary Links this week.

Lectionary Links (RCL): March 26, 2017 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.