Monday: Understanding
Pray: Begin by making the sign of the cross and calling upon God's name.
From God to us, from death to life, from me to you …
in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Merciful Father, open our ears to hear your promises and to trust in your grace. Turn our hearts and minds toward you, for you are the source of all goodness, comfort, and salvation. By your Holy Spirit speak to us now as we listen to your Word, through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Listen: Listen carefully as the Bible story for the week is read aloud.
Acts 12:6-16
6 The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. 7 Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!” The chains fell off his hands, 8 and the angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did what he was told. Then the angel said, “Now put on your coat and follow me.” 9 Peter left with the angel, but he thought everything was only a dream. 10 They went past the two groups of soldiers, and when they came to the iron gate to the city, it opened by itself. They went out and were going along the street, when all at once the angel disappeared.
11 Peter now realized what had happened, and he said, “I am certain that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish leaders planned to do to me.” 12 Then Peter went to the house of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark. Many of the Lord’s followers had come together there and were praying. 13 Peter knocked on the gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she heard Peter’s voice, she was too excited to open the gate. She ran back into the house and said that Peter was standing there. 15 “You are crazy!” everyone told her. But she kept saying that it was Peter. Then they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, until finally they opened the gate. They saw him and were completely amazed. (CEV)
Engage: Talk about the Bible by having parents respond to children’s questions.
Child: Peter had not done anything wrong. People had put him in jail because he taught others about Jesus. Have you ever been punished, even though you didn’t do anything wrong?
Child: Did God forget about Peter in jail? What did God do for him?
Affirm: Pray for God to put his Word into action in your daily life.
Lord, sometimes life is not fair. But we know that you are the one who has the power to make things right. Help us to trust in you, even when things are not going well for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Have each person in the family bless one another with these words:
May the hope of God our Father grant you peace and security all your days. Amen.