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Have you ever wondered what Jesus was writing on the ground with his finger in Sunday’s Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent? The footnote in my Bible (NABRE) refers to Jeremiah 17:13 (RSV): “Those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.” Other translations say that those who turn away from God “shall be enrolled in the netherworld” (NABRE), “recorded in the underworld” (NRSVCE), or “swept away like words written in dust” (CEV).
So what was Jesus writing on the ground? Was it the passage from Jeremiah or perhaps the sins of those eager to stone the woman? Priest blogger Father Gaetano Piccolo, S.J., wrote: “We can’t be sure what Jesus wrote on the ground, but it seems that in those words, written in the sand, the scribes – experts in scripture – could read about themselves, as if Jesus had placed a mirror in front of their eyes. For these experts of the Word, there was no better mirror than words themselves. Jesus is the unexpected. He is the event that we come across, seemingly by accident, that reveals the truth about ourselves, whether we like it or not.”
The truth about ourselves is that we are also unfaithful sinners. May we all use these days of Lent to examine our own consciences and appeal to God for his mercy and forgiveness.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to many online resources.
Videos of the Sunday Gospel (John 8:1–11)
Use these videos as you discuss the Sunday Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Women Caught in Adultery (John 8:1–11)
• A Woman Forgiven
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Videos for Lent
• Lent: Catholic Central
• Lent in 3 Minutes
• Cardinal Timothy Dolan: What Is Lent?
• What Is Lent?
• 10 Fun Things You Might Not Know About Lent
• Faith, Fun, and Celebration: Lent Episode (featuring John Burland)
• Songs to Journey with Jesus during Lent, Featuring Miss Heidi and John Burland
• The Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron (you may wish to show this in segments to your group, or select one or two stations at a time)
• The Catholic VR Experience: The Stations of the Cross (Virtual Reality)
Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope Resources
• Jubilee 2025 activities, handouts, resources, and more
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is forgiving.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, envelopes (one per child), and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
This Sunday’s Gospel talks about a woman who was caught in adultery. Preschool children are too young to understand this concept. Seeds will focus on the fact that, in Jesus’ eyes, we always can say we are sorry and start over. The children will learn a short prayer that they can say anytime and anywhere: “Jesus, I love you.” Encourage them to pray this prayer with their families.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflections and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to forgive.
In preparation for this lesson, gather pencils or crayons, a wrench, scissors, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the story coloring page (one per child). We also suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
Sunday’s Gospel about the woman caught in adultery may seem too mature for children this age, but the overriding message of Jesus’ forgiveness and teaching us to forgive is ageless. Promise children know a lot about blaming and being blamed. Feelings attached to these experiences are explored in the story.
In the Cover Activity, they will identify different types of actions in a beach scene—loving actions, mistakes, mean actions. They will identify words and actions that make things better. The Gospel and doctrine will emphasize Jesus’ forgiveness and that God forgives us as we forgive others. They will learn a short prayer to pray when it’s hard to be good: “Jesus, help me to do what is right.” They will explore alternatives to blaming and relate the Gospel to their own lives.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflections and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to forgive.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, drawing paper, crayons, and a Church Year calendar.
Sunday’s Gospel about the woman caught in adultery may seem too mature for children this age, but the overriding message of Jesus’ forgiveness and teaching us to forgive is ageless. When Jesus tells the woman to sin no more, he was telling her to grow in virtue. The children will explore the meaning of virtue and its Latin root in the word meaning “strong.” The children may enjoy relating virtues to superpowers that they can strengthen through practice. The Works of Mercy are virtuous actions that the children can do to strengthen their superpowers.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus treats sinners with mercy.
For this lesson, gather Bibles (one per child). You will also need a copy of the lesson cover from 3/9 for the Week 5 prayer.
Before class, decide which of the Lent: A Review from A to Z activities (pages 1–3) you will do in class and those you will assign as homework. Make sure to have the children’s copies of the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbooks available for reference.
The children will focus on sin this week after reading the Gospel about the woman caught in adultery. Ask: How does Jesus respond to people who sin? The children’s study of the Lord’s Prayer concludes this week. Survey the class and ask what they’ve learned about this prayer during Lent. Remind the children that Holy Week—the most important week in the Liturgical Year—begins next Sunday.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• The Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer
• What Are Sins?
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus refuses to condemn.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, markers or colored pencils, and scissors.
We continue to focus on forgiveness this week. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we see God’s forgiveness in action. While the Pharisees want to punish the woman caught in adultery—and trap Jesus at the same time—Jesus offers the woman forgiveness without punishment or condemnation. This is a comfort to those who may fear admitting their wrongs and asking for forgiveness. God offers mercy to those who seek it.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Understanding God’s Mercy
• Katie Locus
Image credit: Mahony/Shutterstock.com
