Lenten Lunch

We started the tradition last year to have the Symbolic Lenten Lunch created by Lacy with Catholic Icing last year.  We loved it so much that we knew that we wanted to do it again!  Thankfully, I had made the note cards last year and saved them in my Lent storage bin that had what each item was in what order, what the Bible verse was and what food to be served with it!  This made it very easy to re-create again for this year.  

I love that as our children get older they are so much more helpful and truly appreciate things more!  Connor helped me set up the whole lunch and was constantly saying, "I remember what this is for!" and was re-telling me parts of the story of Jesus's crucifixion.  

During our Lunch we discussed:

• The Agony in the Garden: Luke 22:39-46 (with Olives, to symbolize Jesus being at the Mount of Olives)
• Judas' Kiss: Luke 22_47-48 (with Hershey' Kiss to symbolize the kiss of Judas)
• The Arrest of Jesus: Luke 22:49-54 (with string cheese with a sword to symbolize Jesus' arrest)
• Peter's Denial: Luke 22:55-62 (with a hard boiled egg to symbolize a cock crowing)
• Judas' Silver: Matthew 27:3-8 (with Peppermint Patties to symbolize Judas' 30 pieces of silver)
• Crown of Thorns: John 19:1-3 (with crackers/peanut butter and pretzels in the shape of crowns)
• Pilate Washes His Hands: Matthew 27-22-25 (with a glass of water)
• Crucifixion: John 19:17-19 (with pretzels put together in the shape of a cross with peanut butter)
• Vinegar to Drink on the Cross: John 19:28-30 (with Salt and Vinegar chips to symbolize when they offered vinegar for Jesus to drink)

As we continue to homeschool and work on listening, comprehension, etc something that I used to have to kind of rush through to finish now can linger on with questions and discussion.  We read each bible verse in full and then talked about how we would feel or what we thought about when certain things happen like Judas kissing Jesus to show the guards where he was in the garden, or Peter  denying Jesus and why he maybe did that.  We also were able to take a moment for prayer after we read about Jesus dying on the cross.  The boys each prayed out loud why they were thankful for Jesus dying on the cross for them, and it was so sweet to hear there thoughts.

We ended talking about how although it is fun to eat the different foods, the most important part of this activity is the words in the Bible that tell the most important story of our history.  It was a wonderful way to start our Holy Week this year.