\u2018The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.\u2019 (Invitatory antiphon)<\/p>\n
God\u2019s people rejoice because God created the world so that they might live in God\u2019s love. God is a loving parent to each one. When God created the world, God did so out of love and God saw everything that God created was very good. We can read the account of Creation in the Book of Genesis (Gen 1:1-2:4), the first book of the Old Testament. The Story of Creation may also be read from the ebooks on the VERITAS website at appropriate class levels.<\/p>\n
Remember today is Earth Day 2020.\u00a0 Earth Day is celebrated annually internationally on April 22 to highlight protection for the environment.\u00a0 Earth Day offers an opportunity to care for our common home, to read Laudato Si\u2019, Pope Francis\u2019 letter to the whole world and to play our role in caring for the environment today. Reading resources can be accessed in the eBooks on the VERITAS Grow in Love website.<\/p>\n
The Gospel the priest reads at Mass today is a continuation of St John\u2019s Gospel (Jn 3:16-21). By the way, it is possible to hear the priest reading the Gospel at Mass if you tune into the webcam of your parish church. Not all parishes have webcams but you will be able to check on your phone or computer. When the priest reads the Gospel the assembly of people stands. This is so everyone is alert to hear the Good News. The priest introduces the Gospel.<\/p>\n
Before the Gospel is read you will hear a reading from the New Testament from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5: 17-26).\u00a0 \u00a0You will also hear a Psalm being read after the reading. Today you will hear verses read from Psalm 33. \u00a0Sometimes the Psalm is sung. The Psalms are written in the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament. You will also hear the Gospel Acclamation where \u2018Alleluia\u2019 is recited or sung.<\/p>\n
The children may be familiar with Psalm 139, Psalm 23, Psalm 148 and Psalm 37 from the Grow in Love programme.<\/p>\n
Today in the Gospel (Jn 3:16-21) we hear how God loved the world and the people he created so much that he sent his Son Jesus to tell them of that great love. God did this so everyone might believe in Jesus and that they might have eternal life; \u2018Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent\u2019 (Jn 17:3).\u00a0 God says that Jesus was sent so \u2018the world might be saved through him.\u2019 So Jesus is the Saviour of the world. Jesus is the light of the world.<\/p>\n
The Paschal Candle lit at the Easter Vigil represents Jesus, the light coming into the world and it is lit during the Easter season and at other times during the liturgical year. The Baptismal candles are lit during the Sacrament of Baptism from the Paschal Candle as a symbol of passing on the faith.<\/p>\n
To live in the light means to live in God\u2019s love and to follow Jesus and his teaching. We cannot do this on our own. God will give us the grace to help us and encourage us to live in the light. When we pray we can thank Jesus for being our light to guide our way. We can thank Jesus for always being present to us. In prayer we can ask Jesus to help us to send the Spirit so we can love God and love other people, even though sometimes it is difficult to do that. Jesus understands our weakness and he forgives our sins when we are truly sorry.<\/p>\n
A variety of resources are available on The Story of Creation for various class levels from the VERITAS website which can be accessed:<\/p>\n
Logon: www.veritas.ie<\/a><\/p>\n