In today's Gospel we learn that Jesus' family is not bound to blood and that anyone who does the will of his Father is also part of His family. We are reminded that the church is part of our own extended family and that we are to care for people in our church community.
Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together for this Children's Liturgy lesson. Please send us the Holy Spirit and fill our heart with peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear the message you have for us today in the Gospel story. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Jesus came home with his disciples. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons." Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder the house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will beforgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you." But he said to them in reply, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Source: Catholic Kids Media. "What's most important?". Uploaded 9 June 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp6qeMJvO7o&list=PLbg4F9JBVbPclLYfLtUIHu6OegPuJ0f_H
Invite children to tell you about their families, including any new brothers and sisters they might have.
Say: Our family members loves and care for us. We feel close to them, and we look for ways to care for one another. We might argue sometimes, but we are connected to our family members in a very special way.
Say: We are blessed to have another family—our Church family. As Christians, we are all members of the family of God.
Say: Jesus teaches us that when we believe in him and follow God’s law, we are members of his family. God is our Father, and we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ask: What are some things we do with our Church family? (Accept all reasonable responses, including worshiping together, praying together, socializing at church gatherings, helping parishioners who are sick or elderly, and volunteering in the community.) Invite children to share one kindness they will do to show they care about their Church family.
Pray: Jesus, thank you for our families and our Church family. Help us be loving and kind to all people. Close by praying the Lord’s Prayer.
Father in Heaven, we thank you for your lesson today. Thank you for knowing our needs and giving us an extended family that we can turn to when our family is distant. Help us to have the courage to recognize those in our community as our extended family, and to show them love in times where they need hope. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
