“John answered them all, saying, ‘I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.”
Source: USCCB.org Luke, chapter 3:16
For Parents to Teach to Their Children
Hello Families. The Nativity (birth) of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated on June 24 and is a “Solemnity.” According to CatholicCulture.org: “The [Solemnity] is highest liturgical rank of a feast in the ecclesiastical calendar.”
This week, we learn about the birth of John in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1:57-66. The baptism of Jesus by John comes about thirty years later:
“After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
This week, invite your children to draw, paint, make a collage or create whatever they would like to make, that tells the story about the baptism of Jesus. Use an illustrated Catholic children’s Bible for ideas for the art project. The three paintings below were made using children’s watercolor pastels on watercolor paper. Use whatever supplies you have at home and learn about the story of John the Baptist and his cousin, Jesus Christ.
Our Art Gallery
Saint John and “The Baptism of Jesus at The River Jordan “
Two Watercolors of The River Jordan
To make the watercolor collage on the left, I used liquid watercolor on watercolor paper. I wet the paper with water then dribbled slightly diluted watercolor onto the paper, letting the colors run. When dry, I cut the painting into strips–tearing the paper would be nice, too– and glued them into place, on extra large paper, using Mod Podge glue. Any white school glue will work fine. This collage represents the River Jordan, the dry land and the hot sun in the sky. It can be made with any type of tool. Markers and crayons would be great.
The second watercolor was painted using different types of tools–liquid watercolors, cake-type watercolors, coarse sea salt to make “sand” (sprinkle on wet paint), a white watercolor pastel crayon, and some blue tempera paint with glitter. Have fun using non-traditional tools. I painted the “river” with a fingernail brush, to make the streaks. Two great tools for painting are your fingers, and paper towels to erase something you don’t like, or to blot extra paint. Watercolor paper is the most important ingredient for watercolor painting. You can use any tool you have at home, although watercolor paper is necessary for a lasting watercolor painting. Here are some of the tools I used:
Please Note: I purchase all my own supplies, such as those highlighted above, from Amazon.com and Michaels.com. SundaySchoolUpdates.com is a labor of love.
Our Readings
“The Nativity of Saint John, the Baptist”
Source: USCCB.org, chapter 1:57-66
“When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
‘No. He will be called John.’
But they answered her,
‘There is no one among your relatives who has this name.’
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, ‘John is his name,’
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
‘What, then, will this child be?’
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.”
“The Preaching of John The Baptist”
Source: USCCB.org, Luke, chapter 3:1-6
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah in the desert. He went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one crying out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord.
make straight his paths.’
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
The Baptism of Jesus
Source: USCCB.org Luke, chapter 3:21-22
“After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”