Catholic Identity

Advent Week 4: Love 

The final week centers on love, celebrating God’s love in sending Jesus to the world. 

Key Message 

• Jesus is the greatest gift of love. 
• We can share God’s love by helping and caring for others. 

Questions: 

• Who do you know who is expecting a baby? 
• How are they preparing for the birth? 
• How are we preparing for the birth of Jesus? 

Gospel Reading – Luke 1:39-45 

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” 

When Elizabeth and Mary met, they were both pregnant, and they were both filled with joy and hope. But sometimes when a woman finds she is pregnant, it isn’t always good news. Sometimes it takes quite an adjustment, and sometimes difficult decisions must be made.

Do you know anyone who has been pregnant? Do you know what kind of an experience it was for her? What do you see as the joys and the challenges of being pregnant? 

Have you ever played with a baby? Have you ever held a newborn? Have you ever changed a baby’s nappy? Have you ever fed a baby? How much time have you spent with babies? How do you feel about babies?