Children's Liturgy Series: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

In today's Gospel we learn about how Jesus sent forth the 12 apostles to continue in His work of teaching and healing and make new disciples, emphasizing the importance of the work of the 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 grant us wisdom and understanding so we can hear the message you have for us today and have the courage to go forth and share this message with our friends and family. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.T hen he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. ’Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Ask the group: Have you ever been sent on an errand? What were some of the things that you have been sent to do? How did it feel to be given a job to do? (Allow all reasonable responses.)

Say: In today's Gospel we hear about a time when Jesus gave his disciples an important job to do. Let's listen carefully to this Gospel.
Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today's Gospel, Matthew 9:36—10:8.

Ask: What did Jesus send his disciples out to do? (to drive out unclean spirits, to cure the sick, to raise the dead) What rules did Jesus give them to follow? (Jesus told them to go only among the people of Israel, not to take money for their work, and to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.)

Say: Today's Gospel also names for us the twelve apostles. The word apostle means “one who is sent.” What were the apostles of Jesus sent to do? (to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and to show it in their deeds)

Say: Even today we are sent by Jesus to be apostles, to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Like the apostles, we do not have to go to far away lands to do this. Remember that the apostles were told to stay within the land of Israel. We are sent to bring Jesus' love to our families, our schools, and our neighborhoods.

Conclude in prayer together that we will be faithful apostles of Jesus. Pray today's Psalm, Psalm 100.

Father in Heaven we thank you for lesson today.  Please bless each one of us in this room. Please help us to be like your apostles. Grant us the grace to go forth and make new disciples through sharing your kindness and teachings with others. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.