Jesus is BornFaith Stories: Jesus Lives

Family Session with Young Children

From the very beginning, from the time of his first breath, Jesus reveals to us something about the mystery of God. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. We have heard the story so often that perhaps the absurdity of the setting escapes us. Today when we tell the story it somehow seems quaint and charming. But think about it: the Son of God’s first resting place was in a stable.

The setting is no accident. There is a message here. Jesus’ humble beginnings announce to the world a new order. All that is great and powerful and sacred became forever united with the most ordinary. The course of human history was changed forever on the day Jesus of Nazareth, child of Mary and Son of God, was born. It was the start of a new era.

Getting started. Discuss together: What was the best birthday you ever celebrated? What made it great?

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Before you begin, read the introduction on the right to yourself. It will help you understand what you will be exploring with your child in the following pages.

Thank you for guiding your child through this process. Please be sure you have read the Parent Introduction Page so you will understand your role.

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With the help of your child, prepare the meeting space. Pull out your Bible, light some candles, and add any other decoration you’d like to make the space beautiful.

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Parents & guardians, start here.

Read these numbered instructions

to yourself throughout the process.

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A long, long time ago, there lived a young woman named Mary. Mary lived in Nazareth with her husband, Joseph.

Mary was expecting her first baby. Mary and Joseph were very excited. They knew that this baby was going to be very special because an angel had told them so.

A few weeks before the baby was supposed to be born, Mary and Joseph took a trip to a city called Bethlehem. They went there because the Romans (the people who ruled the land) wanted everyone to go back to their hometowns to be counted. Joseph’s family was from Bethlehem. So that is where they had to go.

When they came to Bethlehem, they saw that it was very crowded. The city was full of people who had also come to sign up. Mary and Joseph could not find a place to spend the

night. Joseph tried every inn he could find. (Back then, hotels were called inns.)

Joseph went back to Mary and said, “I don’t know what we are going to do. I cannot find any place for us to sleep tonight.” Mary smiled at Joseph and said, “Do not worry, God will take care of us. We will find a place.”

They walked a little farther. Then Mary stopped. She turned to Joseph and she said, “Joseph, it is time. Our baby is going to be born very soon.” Joseph did not know what to do. In those days, there were no hospitals for

new mothers. Joseph had to find a safe place for Mary to have her baby.

Joseph found a place for Mary to sit down and rest. Then

Based on Luke 2:1-20

Read the story below out loud. If your child is old enough, he or she can read it to you. Otherwise, read it to your child. Along the way, clarify anything your child might not understand.

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he went back to the last inn where he had stopped. He knocked and knocked at the door. The man who owned the inn came out. “What do you want?” he said. “I have already told you there is no room for you.”

“Please,” said Joseph, “my wife is going to have a baby very soon. I have to find a place that is safe and warm for her.”

“We have three families in every room at my inn,” said the man. “It is too crowded. Babies need quiet places to be born.”

“Then where shall I go?” said Joseph. “Every inn has three families in a room.”

“I have an idea,” said the innkeeper. “I have a small place out in back where I keep my animals.

There is clean straw there. It is warm and safe. I will give you some blankets and pillows. You can make a comfortable, quiet place.”

And that is just what Joseph did. He gathered the straw and fluffed up the pillows. He made a comfortable place for Mary. And before very long, Jesus was born. This is where Jesus spent his first night in our world—not in a sparkling clean hospital, not in a fancy hotel, not even in a not-so-fancy hotel. Jesus spent his first night in a place for animals. It was just the right place for such a special baby to be born. It was close to the stars and earth, close to the animals, close to all the love he would ever need. Jesus spent his first night in our world warm and snug in Mary’s arms with Joseph close by.

Happy birthday, Jesus! Happy birthday, world!

From the very first day of his life, Jesus showed us what everyone most needs. It doesn’t matter what you have, or what you do not have. Love is the most important gift of all.

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Now discuss the story with your child. Use the following or other questions:

1. What is your favorite part of the story?

2. How do you think Joseph made the space more comfortable for Mary and Jesus?

3. If Jesus were born today, where do you think his birthplace would be?

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Get your child started on the activity on the next page, making sure they understand the instructions. Then continue to read below.

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Just for you: Jesus’ humble birth shows us that love is what God is about and love is what people need most.

The theme for this first story is very simple. Loving and being loved are essential to God’s plan. This is the message that Jesus proclaimed throughout his life. “God loves you. All that is required is that you love God in return and love others as you love yourself.” Help your child to imagine a loving God, and remind

them often about how much you love them.

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A Comfortable PlaceDraw Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus in the picture below. Make the space look as comfortable as you can.

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Help your child get started on the their activity on the next page, and then continue to the next step.

Ask a preschooler to draw a picture of Jesus as a little boy playing with his friends.

1Pretend that you are going to a birthday party for Jesus. Fold blank sheets of paper in half, and have each adult make a birthday card for Jesus.

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Happy Birthday, Jesus!Think about what you would give Jesus if he

were the same age as your child, and about what you would give to the grown-up Jesus. Write your ideas below.

Once you are each done, look at each other’s cards. Then talk with your child about the gifts each of you chose for Jesus.

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A Birthday Party for JesusPretend you are going to a birthday party for Jesus. Make a birthday card for him in the space below.

Pretend that Jesus is your age. In the package below, draw a present for him.

In this package, draw a present you would give the grown-up Jesus.

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to me.

Happy birthday to Jesus. Happy birthday to us.

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Closing Ritual

Homecoming

Talk about the day your child was born or about the day he or she was brought home. Talk about how happy the family was. If you have any pictures of the homecoming or birth, share them with the child.

If you are not the parent, you might ask the young person to imagine their homecoming.

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Make a small cross with your thumb on your forehead, lips, and heart as you say, “Lord, we ask you to open our minds, our lips, and our hearts to the Good News in your gospel, so that we may live it in the days ahead.” Help your child do the same.

Read Luke 2:6-7 from your Bible out loud.

End with a prayer thanking God for the gift of life and especially for the gift of Jesus’ life.

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Growing Up Catholic Faith Stories • Jesus Lives • Text © 1998, 2020 Judith Dunlap and Mary Cummins Wlodarski. Cover and scripture illustrations © 1998 by Steve Erspamer, S.M. All rights reserved. Published by The Pastoral Center. This resource is licensed per child for a period of one year. Thank you for cooperating with our honor system regarding our product licenses so we can sustain our ministry. Learn more at GrowingUpCatholic.com / PastoralCenter.com • Contact us at 1-844-727-8672 or resources@pastoralcenter.com.