25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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God’s gifts are unlimited

Points to note

This is a long parable reading and deals with concepts of ‘unfairness’ with which adults often struggle.  Children encounter these similar concepts of ‘unfairness’ in what we see as their own little childish ways.  Or is it we, adults, who react to such ‘unfairness’ in childish ways.  In this sense, to discuss this with children could be difficult unless the facilitator has, at least to a certain extent, come to terms with this ‘unfairness’.  Care should also be taken that we do not project our prejudices on the children.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in the heaven and glory in the highest heavens!

Alleluia!

Gospel

Jesus has explained forgiveness to his disciples and he expects everybody to forgive everyone.

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Matthew

All:   Glory to you O Lord

(Mt 20: 1-16)

Jesus said to his disciples, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at sunrise to hire workers for his vineyard.  He made an agreement with his workers for RM30, and sent them to his vineyard.  Going out at about 9 o’clock he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.”  So they went.  At about noon and again at about 3 o’clock, he went out and did the same.  Then at about the 5 o’clock he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?”  “Because no one has hired us,” they answered.  He said to them, “You go off into my vineyard too”.  In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his accountant, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.”  So those who were hired at about the 5 o’clock came forward and received $30 each.  When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received $30 each.  They took it, but grumbled at the landowner.  “The men who came last,” they said, “have done only one hour’s work, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in al the heat.”  He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on $30?  Take your earnings and go.  I choose to pay the last-comer as much as I pay you.  Have I no right to do what I like with my own?  Why be jealous because I am generous?”  Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

Describe the scenario: the child was caught fighting with the little brother or sister.  Mom comes along and had a severe punishment for the child, but little brother or sister got off without even a telling off.  Do they feel it is fair?  Get them to describe any other situations like this.  Be careful that the whole session does not get too vindictive!

Ever played a game, like football, with the rest of the team?  Or on sports day?  (You may use any other team activity such as putting together a collage with others, etc.)  Imagine that the child played very hard and ran a lot during the game or race.  Some others did not do so much work.  But because it is a team effort, everyone gets a prize irrespective of the effort put in.  How does the child feel about it?  Is it fair?  Encourage different points of view.

Ask the child to imagine him or herself as the one who was less skilled or talented and yet got the same prize as others.  How would this child feel?  Is it fair for such a child to feel like that?

Go thorough the story again and see what workmen felt, those who worked all day and those who worked only one hour.  

·       What do you think those who worked one hour thought they will get when time came for them to be paid?  Do you think they expected a full day’s pay?  How do you think they felt when they got a full day’s pay?

·       What do you think those who worked all day thought when they saw those who worked one hour get a full day’s pay?  Do you think they thought they will get more than those who worked one hour?  Why?  How do you think they felt when they got exactly the same?

·       How do you think those who worked one hour and got a full day’s pay felt when they saw those who worked all day getting the same as them?

Relate it to the message of Jesus.  All people who are saved belong to the one big happy family of God.  And all members of the same family will enjoy the same rewards from the same father, just as all members of the same team get the same prize.  There is only one reward: going to heaven.  There is no such thing as a lower grade of heaven.  Either we make it to

heaven or we don’t.  And everyone who does, gets to the same heaven.

There are people who committed their lives to living in a community, like nuns and some priests.  Those who are able work more.  Those who can’t work as much as they can.  Those who are able draw little from the common funds.  Those who are sick draw as much as they need.  Maybe, the kingdom of God is a little like that.  People contribute as much as they can and takes as much as they need: everyone gets the same chance of life.

Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

Year A, B, C

Feast of the Triumph of the Cross

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Defending the Cross

Points to note

There are various angles that you can use on this reading.  Much of it could be abstract, and doctrinal.  I would like to focus on some topical issues arising from what the Pope called Christianophobia, which sometimes degenerates into downright discrimination or even violence and persecution.

While the Cross may have saved us, we too must defend the Cross, not in the meaning like in the Crusades, but more of the ensuring that the Gospel values that the Cross stands for, lives on.  We may not succeed in defending the existence of the Gospel values in the world but we must at least ensure its existence in our hearts, from where no one can extinguish it, but ourselves.  The Cross has no triumph except through us and in us.

Liturgy

 

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

We adore you O Christ, and we bless you:

because by your cross, you have redeemed the world.

Alleluia!

Gospel

The Lord be with you.

All:   And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John

All:   Glory to you O Lord

(Jn 3:13-17)

Jesus said to Nicodemus

“No one has gone up to heaven

except the one who came down from heaven,

the Son of Man who is in heaven;

and the Son of Man must be lifted up

as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that,

everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

Yes, God loved the world so much

that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost

but may have eternal life,

for God sent his Son into the world

not to condemn the world,

but so that through him, the world might be saved.

This is the Word of the Lord

Discussion

What is the difference between a cross and a crucifix?  A crucifix is a cross with the body of Jesus on it.  A crucifix is used by Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians while Protestants use only the plain cross.

If you look at the top of a crucifix, whether the big one in church or the little one on your rosary, what do you see in the top arm of the cross?  A little square with “INRI” on it.  It represents the paper, on which Pontius Pilate wrote out the crimes of Jesus for which he was crucified.  “INRI” stands for Iesu Nazarene Rex Idumea, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.

So the Cross was where a king ended up.  Does a king have an army?  Does a king have soldiers?  Yes.  Who are Jesus’ soldiers?  We are.  If we are Jesus’ soldiers, how do we fight for Jesus?

Explain that Jesus does not want us to fight like soldiers do.  But if needed, Christians have to die for the Cross like soldiers die defending their country.

Are you ready to die for the Cross?  St Agnes died for the Cross in ancient Rome at a very tender age.  She was only 12 when her father decided that he wanted her to marry an old man.  She refused as she has dedicated her life of Jesus and for this she was put to death.  Imagine that you are only in school and you die for Jesus!!  Would any of our school children be willing to?

Explain that not everyone likes Christians.  Jesus warned us about that in the Bible.  In ancient Rome, Christians were arrested and jailed or worse.  Some were crucified a lingering death: normally crucifixion takes days; Jesus’ crucifixion was shortened due to the Sabbath.  Others were thrown to the lions: they are taken to the sandy pitch in that big stadium in Rome, where hungry lions were let loosed on them while spectators cheered them on.

Even today, there are people who do not like Christians and would like to jail them.  In North Korea, the government has declared that they do not believe in God and Christianity is banned.  Still, there were Christians in North Korea who continued to pray and read the Bible in secret.

In Iraq, there are people who took over parts of the country and make the Christians convert to their religion or be put to death.  Most of the Christians left while most of those who stayed behind chose death.

Even in Malaysia, the government do not allow us to build many new churches.  They did that too in Poland once.  The communist government there at that time, who didn’t believe in God, built a new city with modern houses, factories, etc, but no

church.  So, every Sunday morning, people dressed up in their Sunday best and built a church out of any bricks, metal and glass that they could find.

In Malaysia, the government did not allow us to use the name of God in our prayers.  Those who prayed in Malay, especially those from East Malaysia, suffered.  In the kind of harsh environment, it is important for us to remain true to the Cross.  If people tell us that we cannot go for mass, we will have mass in secret.  If they do not build us churches, we will build our own.  If they do not allow us to use certain words in our prayers, we will continue to pray the way Jesus wants us to pray.

In doing all these, we will be able to defend the Cross and we will be truly soldiers of our king, Jesus.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Twenty-third Ordinary Sunday

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I am my brother’s keeper

Points to note

Last week, we dealt with how Jesus reacted to Peter who made a mistake.  This Sunday, we deal with a central theme in our everyday life:  What do we do when someone else makes a mistake?

Care must be taken to ensure that the discussion does not centre on the mistake that the someone else did, but rather on our reaction to that mistake.  Some children are notorious as ‘tell-tales’ and intervention is often required to keep the discussion on track.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord,

consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Gospel

This passage takes place after the Transfiguration, and Jesus was discussing with his disciples about the Church.

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 18: 15-20)

Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves.  If he listens to you, he has won back your brother.  If he does not listen, take one or two others with you:  the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge.  But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; or if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a leper or a tax collector.

“I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you considered loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.

“I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Discussion

Have you heard of the saying ‘I am not my brother’s keeper’?  It was Cain’s response when God asked him where Abel was (Gn 4:9).  What kind of person was Cain?  He murdered his brother, Abel.  You may wish to go through the story of why Cain killed Abel - because Cain got jealous when God liked Abel’s sacrifice more than Cain’s.  Discuss the type of person who would use the saying - someone who is afraid or not bothered about his brother.  Explain that ‘brother’ in this context, does not just refer to a member of the family, but to any member of the community.

Have you ever seen your brother or sister in the family done something wrong?  Careful here, we do not want a long diatribe of dirty linen being washed in public!!  Damper it down if necessary and move on.  Note that this does not refer to wrongdoing done by the child, but by others

Point out that even if it were a wrongdoing where no one gets hurt, Mom and Dad would still be angry.  Discuss what the child would do if Mom and Dad still haven't found out.  Would they tell at the first instance, or would they remonstrate with the wrongful sibling?  If the sibling were still unrepentant, would the child then inform the parents?  I find that in many circumstances, there is no right and wrong answer to this question.  Even for us as adults, or maybe, especially for us as adults (would you turn in your own child if he/she commits a crime?  A small crime?  A big crime?).  So, don’t be dogmatic with the answer.

If there is time, expand the discussion to brothers and sisters in the community.

Explain to the children that as the Church is one family, it also has a head like our parents at home.  As head of the Church, God would not like it if somebody in the family sins.  As a member of the family, we have a responsibility to do for a fellow member of our community what we should do for our sibling at home who has done any wrongdoing.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Twenty second Ordinary Sunday

Images

Being told off and making up

Points to note

Although this passage has much for an adult to dwell upon, there may be little for children, if careful linking is not made with other passages.  If last Sunday’s reading was read, there is an opportunity to place this week’s reading in that context.  To have read of the rebuke to Peter without the preceding investiture as Pope loses some of its sting.

Children love a good story.  The story of the confession of Peter, Jesus handling of the keys to him and the subsequent rebuke should be read with the drama it deserves.  Care should be taken if role playing is to be attempted as a rebuke is involved.  Neither child playing Jesus nor Peter should be allowed to take the rebuke too seriously to avoid anyone getting hurt.

Ultimately, the message driven home is that, no matter how bad of foolish we have been, Jesus continues to call us to be his followers.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

May the father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our mind,

so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Gospel

Peter has just been made the first Pope by Jesus after correctly identifying Jesus as the Son of God.

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 16: 21-27)

Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was supposed to go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the Jews, to be put to death and to be raised on the third day.  Then, taking him aside, Peter started to plead with him.  “Heaven preserve you, Lord,” he said, “This must not happen to you.”  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to be a follow me, let him give up everything and take up his cross and follow me.  For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for me will find it.  So what will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life?  Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? 

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Discussion

Retell the story to include Peter’s profession of faith.  If possible, make it as dramatic as possible as it must have been a dramatic event!

How did you think Peter reacted when Jesus called him Satan.  Explain carefully what Jesus meant when he called Peter Satan (refer to adult’s guide).  Discuss what Peter must have felt when he was told off by Jesus.  Remember that Peter has just been consecrated as Pope by Jesus and couldn’t have felt any prouder in his whole life.  He must have felt very let down by himself.

Discuss also what the other disciples felt when seeing their leader rebuked by Jesus.  Some may even have felt that no one will ever make the standards that Jesus has set if even Peter couldn’t meet it.

Have you ever felt like what Peter has felt?  You feel useless and everyone else is despairing of you if you will ever be good enough.  Try drawing out the experiences from the children.

What did Jesus actually say to Peter?  Note that Jesus asked Peter to stand behind him.  Now, only followers would stand behind a leader.  If you don’t want someone to be near you, you tell them to get lost!!  So, in the same remark, Jesus followed up the rebuke with a reconciliation.  This reminds us that he will stand by us and help us even if we fail again and again.  Are there any other stories about Peter not doing things right but Jesus gave him another chance?  Peter walking on water; Peter denying Jesus three times.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

LSW children

Year A

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Images

Trust in Jesus

Points to note

This is another vivid account of the powers of Jesus and of faith in him.  As such, there are many images that can be drawn from this passage.  One could also concentrate on the powers of Jesus to calm the sea.  If you choose to concentrate on this image, though, it is recommended that the demonstration of his powers by Jesus should not be taken only as such but the powers are demonstrated to illustrate a requirement of Christian living: that Jesus’ powers are available to us if we but trust in him.

Liturgy

Acclamation before the Gospel

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in the heaven and glory in the highest heavens!

Alleluia!

Gospel

Jesus was tired after teaching people.  However, as we have seen last week, people did not leave him alone, and he had to feed five thousand of them.  Now, he is left even more tired and wishes to go away with his friends for some rest.

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 14:22-33)

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away.  After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray.  When evening came he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a headwind.  In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified.  “It is a ghost,” they cried out in fear.  But at once, Jesus called out to them, saying, “Courage!  It is I!  Do no be afraid!”  It was Peter who answered, “Lord”, he said, “if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.”  “Come,” said Jesus.  Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink.  “Lord!  Save me!” he cried.  Jesus put out his hands at once and held him.  “Man of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  And as they got out of the boat the wind dropped.  The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Dialogue

Have you ever seen when a baby plays with his parents?  Can you see the baby’s face when his father tosses him up in the air and then catches him again?  Is there any fear?  Discuss how the baby feels safe because he knows that his father will catch him before he falls.  Note the fact that the thought that his father will not catch him does not even cross the baby’s mind.

Discuss how we may have such a personal experience ourselves.  Ever gone into a big crowd like at a football game?  Discuss how the children would hold the hands of the parents tightly so that they will not get lost.  Ever been frightened when going camping?  Discuss how we keep closely to the adults to be safe.  There may be other examples.

Go through the reading and discuss the salient points, bringing out how the various peoples felt at the following points:

·       When Jesus and the disciples went out onto the boat to rest and instead, a storm broke out, were the disciples exasperated at losing their rest in addition to being frightened?  Sometimes, we worry instead of praying.

·       When Jesus decided to go for a walk, were the disciples frightened to see Jesus walking on water?  Who else would walk on water?  Ghosts?  Sometimes, we see the worst in all good things.

·       When Peter wanted to join Jesus walking on water, what was he anticipating (walking on water – come on??!!) and why did you think he wanted to walk on water as well?  Sometimes, we think that faith is easy, and we don’t prepare & pray about the hard part – keeping going with Jesus.

·       When Peter began walking on water, what did he begin to see?  The winds and the waters would seem frightening and he probably began to wonder what he was doing, walking on water!  Sometimes, we get easily distracted when ‘reality’ sets in.

·       When Peter began to sink: why did he sink?  Where do you think he should have kept his eyes if not on the wind and the water?  What was his reaction?  Sometimes, we only reach out to Jesus after we get into trouble.

·       When Jesus hauled him back into the boat, what did Peter think?  What did the other disciples think of Jesus and Peter?  Sometimes, we wonder what could have been if we had that little more courage.

  

Discuss the lessons of this reading: that to do anything, we must keep our faith in Jesus, keep our eyes on him at all times and do everything that he wants us to do, the way he wants us to do it.

 

A little story

A man went mountain climbing.  As he climbed, suddenly he slipped and fell down a very steep cliff.  With no other hope, he closed his eyes, called out, “God, help me!” held out his hand and grabbed the only branch growing out of the face of the cliff.  As he was hanging there by that one little branch, he looked down the cliff and saw the bottom a long way off.  So, he looked up and shouted, “Anyone up there?”  A booming voice replied, “Yes.”  With relief, the climber shouted, “Can you help me?”  The booming voice replied, “Yes, I can help you but you must trust me.  Do you trust me?”  The climber shouted, “Of course I trust you!”  The booming voice continued, “If you trust me, you must do everything I tell you to do.”  Exasperated, the climber shouted, “Of course I trust you and I will do whatever you want me to do: just get me out of here!”  The booming voice said, “Let go of that branch!”  The climber looked down and then looked up and then shouted, “Anyone else up there?”

You may laugh, but what would you have said?