Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Concepts

Telling the truth

Points to note

This reading is still part of the Sermon on the Mount.  The long version of the reading for this Sunday is 5:17-37.  There are a lot of messages in the long reading, which can be rather confusing and so, I have chosen the shorter reading instead.  This will focus us onto two individual messages: (i) that the Christian lives by rules that are sometimes opposite to what the world thinks is good; and (ii) about swearing.

The first message will dealt with in more detail next week.  So, we will focus on the second one: swearing.  This is not about swearing as in using an expletive in anger, but more about promises to tell the truth.  Swearing to tell the truth is so much a part of modern living that the message from the Sermon on the Mount may be confusing for children, or even adults.  You see people swearing to tell the truth in court, and even the American President being sworn into office using a Bible.

Perhaps, we can keep away from the idea of swearing and more the idea behind swearing – we want people to swear because we do not trust them to tell the truth.  Swearing using a religious symbol only reinforces the credibility, which the Gospel tells us is unnecessary.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:

you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Explain that we are still with the Sermon on the Mount.

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with your spirit.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew

All:   Glory to you O Lord

(Mt 5: 20-22, 33-34, 37)

Jesus said, “For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.  You have learnt how it is said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.  But if I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court.

“Again, you have learnt how was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord.  But I say this to you: do not swear at all.  All you need to say is ‘Yes’ if you mean yes, ‘No’ if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

What is lying?  Do you lie?  If you say no, that would be a lie in itself. Are all lies the same?   Some untruths are part of a joke, and if it is obvious it is not true, it is OK.  If the intention is to deceive, then it is not.  Let’s not talk about white lies and devious lies, as some children may not be able to differentiate between seriousness of the impact of lies. 

What if there is someone who tells lies often, would you trust anything he says?  What if he is telling the truth for once?  Would people still believe him?  What if everyone is like that?  Would you like to be in a group like that?  Discuss what kind of world that would be.

In many places, people have to use God’s name to convince people that they are truthful when they make promises.  Give examples like people swearing on the Bible in court.   How would you feel if your mom and dad do not believe you unless they use a Bible every time you speak?

Would you prefer that people believe you just because you said so, and not because you used God’s name?  Discuss how we can build a credibility that people can believe in.  Have a reputation for being truthful.  How?  Never ever tell lies is one; being faithful to God’s other teachings is another; always be doing whatever you say you would and not do whatever you say you would not do.  It really is about building up a reputation as a person, and not just a reputation for not lying.

Younger children

You may wish to talk to them about Pinocchio and what happened when he lied.  What happened in the end? He became a real boy.  Explain that he became a real boy when he told the truth and he was sincere.  Explain that truth and sincerity goes together.  If you say something without sincerity, it is as good as lying – maybe even worse if you are using the truth to mislead. If you are asked to elaborate, limit your answer to simple examples (when someone took the cookie and was asked by mommy whether he/she has eaten the cookie before he/she ate it and the person replied “no”) – you don’t want to be the one to teach this lesson to the kids.

Older children

You may want to discuss what a lie is.  Would telling jokes be lying? No, there is no intention to deceive.  What about flattery? And white lies?  That’s a tough one.  Depends on the situation I guess, which is why I limit the discussion to the older ones.  What about lying to defend something good, like the church.  I would think not (no need to explain clerical child abuse here).

Recommended watching: Invention of Lying

This is a wonderful what-if movie in which Ricky Gervaise lived in a world where everyone tells the truth all the time.  This leads to hilarious situations until someone became the only person in the world who can lie.  After watching it, think and reflect on what we are doing and saying everyday - how much our modern society rely on lying or the possibility of someone lying. 

 

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

LSW children

Year A

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Concepts

Salt and Light

Points to note

This continuation of the Sermon on the Mount is very vivid.  Salt and light are very common everyday items.  It is therefore very easy to use them in the sessions.  You may wish to concentrate on one or the other, or you may attempt both. 

If you plan to use salt, do not use too much as it is not healthy.  It is not healthy on the children if they try to taste too much of it.  It is also not healthy for your back if you have to vacuum it up from the carpet.

If you do use light in the sessions, it is important to keep the silence in the group.  There is nothing more mystifying than staring silently into a lit candle in the middle of a darkened room.

Unless you have a very well behaved bunch, it is therefore not advisable to start the session in darkness and read from the candle: some children in darkness are notoriously prone to mischief.  Also, only attempt this with older children as some of the younger may have a fear of darkness.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord,

Anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Explain that we are still with the Sermon on the Mount.

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with your spirit.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew

All:   Glory to you O Lord

(Mt 5: 13-16)

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again?  It is good for nothing, can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden.  No one light a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on a lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.  In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

Salt

As a game, try blindfolding some children and letting them smell or taste some salt.  Can they identify what it is?

What is salt like?  Where does it come from?  Some are mined underground, but more commonly, it is harvested from the sea.  The Dead Sea, the lake River Jordan runs into, is very salty and produces a lot of salt.  When salt is harvested from the sea in this way, it glisten white in the sun.  The ancients therefore make it a symbol of purity.

What can we use it for?  To give flavouring; to preserve food (like bacon or salted fish), especially food that is good to keep.

Jesus called us the salt of the world.  What does he mean by that?  We are called to be pure as salt is pure.  We are called to give a different flavour to the earth:  we will make a difference to this world.  We are called to be preservatives and to preserve all that is good to preserve.  You may wish to discuss how the church has preserved our faith for two thousand years.

Light

Have the room in darkness. Make sure that none of the children has a fear of the dark!! Try lighting the candle.  Make it difficult to light the candle and succeed after several attempts.  When the candle is lit, explain that the houses that Jesus’ friends lived in were normally very dark as there were few windows.  Also in those days before matches, fires were very difficult to kindle and light.

Discuss how important were light to people in those days.  What would people do to the light they have lit?  Have it on a high point in the room so that the light can be seen by all.  A light that is hidden is absolutely useless.

Jesus called us the light of the world.  What did he mean by that?  Jesus called himself the true light.  If we are to follow him, we too must be light like he was.  Just as light is used to guide the way, we are called to guide the way for others to follow Jesus.  Notice the way the candle burns itself out to give light.  Just as Jesus died on the cross to show us the way to heaven, we too are sometimes called to make sacrifices in Jesus’ name.

Also notice that when there is a light in a darkened room, there is no part of the room that has no light.  Even if there is only a tiny bit of light there is still light.  And your eyes will eventually adjust to the darkness anyway.  Light will always banish darkness.  So, no matter how bleak the future looks, the faith and hope that Jesus brings into the world through our love will enlightened the bleakness in the world.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Concepts

Be Happy

Points to note

The Beatitudes kicks off a new phase in the Sunday readings.  For the next few Sundays until Lent begin, the readings will be taken from the Sermon on the Mount.  The Sermon on the Mount is very central to Christian thinking.  It has been likened to a manifesto of Christianity.  This is the way we Christians proclaim that we would lead our lives.  Often, we fall far short of it, but Christian hope does not allow us to give up trying.

Hope is the essence of the Beatitudes.  Which is why the Beatitudes are among the most beautiful of all Christian writings.

Beautiful though this reading may be, there seems to be very few ideas of what we can do with the children other than running through the definitions of what Jesus considers virtues.  It is therefore all the more important to keep the children occupied with active participation, perhaps each child reading one Beatitude.  Fortunately, the language in the Bible and the Missal is simple enough.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Explain that we are beginning the Sermon on the Mount.  Get them to imagine the scene:  Jesus on top of a hill with crowds of people, numbering thousands in all.  Hot sun, arid land, shrubs and few trees.

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with your spirit.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew

All:   Glory to you O Lord

 (Mt 5: 1-12)

Seeing he crowds, Jesus went up the hill.  There he sat down and was joined by his disciples.  Then he began to speak.  This is what he taught them:

            “How happy are the poor in spirit;

            theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

            Happy the gentle;

            they shall have the earth for their heritage.

            Happy those who mourn;

            they shall be comforted.

            Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right;

            they shall be satisfied.

            Happy the merciful;

            they shall have mercy shown them.

            Happy the pure in heart;

            they shall see God.

            Happy the peace makers;

            they shall be called sons of God.

            Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right;

            theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of nasty things against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

From the reading, what are the virtues that Jesus seems to like?  It would be a good idea to list down all eight of them on the board.  For each point to be discussed, it will be interesting to see what the children’s definitions are, first.  After discussing what is meant, discuss how to show these virtues in their daily lives.  The meaning in the original Greek may differ slightly from the modern English translation.

Poor in spirit - This means people who have absolutely no one else to turn to in their troubles.  God wants us to totally depend on him.

Gentle - Those who do not get too angry, but are willing to stand up for the rights of those who have been wronged.

Mourn - God promises them comfort.

Hunger - In way, to be greedy for everything that God has to offer.

Merciful - Not just feeling sorry for others, but also sharing all the sufferings of others.

Pure in heart - Someone who has been cleansed and thinks and does good things.

Peace makers - Here peace doesn’t mean absence of war.  It also means calmness.

Persecuted - People who had nasty things done to them.

Discuss how each one of these virtues can be shown in public.  At least discuss a few to illustrate how difficult it can be to follow what Jesus taught us.  Jesus never promised us that it will be easy but he promised that he will be with us along the way.  He knows because he too has found it difficult when he was on earth with us.

 

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Concepts

Fishers of men

Points to note

This reading continues to introduce the public ministry of Jesus.  A recurring image is the sea.  Jesus’ hometown was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a lake.  It is therefore not surprising that the first disciples he called were fishermen.

Matthew has a habit of referring to obscure Old Testament passages.  You see, he was aiming to convert the Jews by pointing out that Jesus was the one foretold by the prophets.  It will not be necessary to dwell on this aspect with younger children.

Note that the missal has a short version of the reading, which I am ignoring.  This is because the short version comprises only the prophecy rather than the calling to be fishers of men, which is more relevant to children.

Liturgy

Acclamation

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom,

and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

Alleluia!

Reading

Explain where Jesus lives: in a town by the side of a lake.  You may wish to use the maps to show where Nazareth and Capernaum are.  Ask what we would expect to see in a lakeside town.  Get them to imagine the scene.

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with your spirit.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew

(Mt 4: 12-23)

When he heard that John has been arrested Jesus went back to Galilee.  He then left Nazareth and lived in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.  In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

            Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

            Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,

            Galilee of the nations!

            The people that lived in darkness

            has seen a great light;

            on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

            a light has risen.

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.  At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

He went round in the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

Has anybody gone fishing before?  What do you need to go fishing?  Hopefully you would have some experience of fishing to be able to talk about it.  Get them to discuss not just the things they bring along to go fishing but that a good fisherman always prepare; he needs a lot of patience; he must have a good sense to where to fish; he must have perseverance; for those who go out into the open sea to fish, courage to face storms at sea is required; it may also be necessary to keep himself out of sight to lure fish; and anything you can think of.

In the reading, Jesus called some fishermen to become fishers of men instead.  What did he mean by being fishers of men?  How does someone become fishers of men?  Basically, the same qualities needed of a fisher of fish are also needed of a fisher of men.  To talk to people about Jesus, patience and perseverance is needed, because people sometimes do not want to listen; courage is needed, as some Christians have died to spread the Gospel; a good Christian must always remember that to teach others about Christ, he must always keep Christ, the ultimate teacher, in sight and not himself.

Are we also called to be fishers of men, or was it only the disciples?  Of course we too are fishers of men!!  Doesn’t a fisherman out in the open sea get drenched?  Haven’t we too once been drenched?  At our baptism, we too are called.  Discuss how we can tell others about Jesus and the Gospel.  We not only tell others about the Christian way of living by preaching to them, but also by our way of living.

Do you know that the fish was once a very important symbol of Christians?  This was because the initials of the words ‘Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Saviour’ in Greek spelt the word ‘fish’.  Christians used to draw a fish on the walls, of the underground rooms where they had mass, as a secret symbol to other Christians that that room has been used by other Christians for mass.

The reading tells about how Jesus called Peter to be an apostle.  Jesus later made Peter the leader of the apostles.  This means that our first pope was a fisherman.  That is why the ring that the Pope wears has a fisherman inscribed on it and why it is called the ring of the fisherman.