Explaning Lent

[tnavarro61]

I will give a short talk to kids on Sunday. My twin brother told me that it would be good if we teach the kids something about Lent. Any suggestions on how and what to explain about Lent? I will also tell them the story of Saint Josephine Bakhita. SO if you have some insights regarding this saint, please share!!

Navo

[Lisa]

I think Matthew 4- Jesus in the desert is always applicable.

Child explanation: Explain how before he went off on his ministry, he took a special time to separate himself from distractions so he could focus only on God. So we give things up, not because popcorn (or chocolate, candy, etc) is bad. (I'm just guessing here, those were always the things I gave up when I was little). We give something up so that by making little sacrifices, we think about God more often, or give the money we would have spent on candy to the poor. It's a time to prepare for the joy of Easter; by taking time to focus more on prayer, fasting (giving something up), and almsgiving (helping the poor), the joy of the resurrection of Our Lord will be even greater!

[HopefulBride]

[quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1299081751' post='2217141']
I think Matthew 4- Jesus in the desert is always applicable.

Child explanation: Explain how before he went off on his ministry, he took a special time to separate himself from distractions so he could focus only on God. So we give things up, not because popcorn (or chocolate, candy, etc) is bad. (I'm just guessing here, those were always the things I gave up when I was little). We give something up so that by making little sacrifices, we think about God more often, or give the money we would have spent on candy to the poor. It's a time to prepare for the joy of Easter; by taking time to focus more on prayer, fasting (giving something up), and almsgiving (helping the poor), the joy of the resurrection of Our Lord will be even greater!
[/quote]

Lisa said what I was going to say so beautifully. The point of Lent is to remind us of Christ's sacrifice and ultimately to get closer to God. It is also a hope that the change or closeness brought on by our sacrifices remain well after Easter.

Good Luck on your talk.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

+JMJ

I think the Marshmallow Test is a good way to explain the practice of sacrificing during lent.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_oy9614HQ[/media]

Sometimes we give up something that is good so that we can get something even better. We give up things in our lives during Lent so we can attain the greatest good: God.

[Nihil Obstat]

I always understood Lent in terms of Jesus' time in the desert. Jesus prepared, and so too must we prepare.

[elizabeth09]

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, so that why there is 40 days of lent. Sundays do not count. If the kids ask why Sundays do not count as Lent, here is why. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. If you are Roman Catholic, then Lent officially ends at sundown on Holy Thursday, with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Here where I got some infor.
http://www.kencollins.com/holy-04.htm