Directions

A. Read the Gospel passage aloud to your students as they follow along. Then, discuss the focus and reflection questions with them as a class.

B. Read the directions from The Good News Hidden Letters to your students. Then, have them find the hidden letters in the painting and write them on the lines. Last, help your students unscramble the letters to spell out the word for the Good News: Gospel.

C. Conclude the lesson by discussing the sacred art painting with your students by using the following questions:

• What are some things that you see in this painting? Jesus, the disciples, angels, rays of light, clouds, a building in the background, hills, trees, and so on. Accept other reasoned answers.
• How does this painting illustrate this week’s Gospel story? Jesus is ascending into Heaven before the gathered disciples.
• If you could rewind this painting, what do you think happened immediately before this scene? Jesus gave His disciples the mission to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
• If you could fast forward this painting, what do you think would happen immediately after this scene? Perhaps the disciples prayed, or they went home amazed, or, like the Gospel says, they returned to Jerusalem with joy and worshiped God. Accept other reasoned answers
• Do you think the artist did a good job illustrating Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven? Why or why not? Accept reasoned answers.

Answer Key

Focus Questions

1. That He would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.
2. Repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
3. To be a witness means to see something happen and then tell others about what was seen.
4. Being clothed with power from on high – i.e. the coming of the Holy Spirit.
5. They returned to Jerusalem and praised God in the Temple.

For "The Good News Hidden Letters" Activity Answer Key, please see attached Handout C

Directions

A. Have students read the Gospel passage, or read it aloud to your students, and then answer the focus questions. You may have students answer them on their own or you may discuss them together as a class.

B. Review and discuss the correct answers when finished.

C. Have your students read about what the Church teaches about evangelization from The Mission of the Church: Our Mission. Then, have students reflect on their own personal witness of Jesus using the My Personal Witness worksheet. You may have students write their responses to the questions or keep notes on the worksheet. If time permits, consider having students practice sharing their witness stories with a partner.

Answer Key

1. The Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations.
2. A witness is someone who has seen or has knowledge of something that happened. Typically, a witness, especially in a court of law, tells others what they have seen or know as evidence of that something’s truthfulness.
3. Tell others what they have seen and know.
4. “The promise of my Father.” In other words, the Holy Spirit.
5. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy and praised God in the Temple.