Children's Liturgy Series: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

In today's Gospel we learn about how Jesus wants us to have a forgiving heart. Jesus reminds us how God forgives us for our mistakes and that Jesus already paid the price of all our sins through is suffering on the cross. So in the same way He forgives us, we should forgive others.

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 hearts with peace, love, and wisdom. Help us to have the courage to forgive people who have offended us, as Jesus did. Have us to have a grateful heart for what Jesus did for us on the cross. We ask this through Jesus name. Amen.

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me,how often must I forgive?As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' 

Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused.Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prisonuntil he paid back the debt.

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you? 'Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you,unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

1. Recall Questions (What happened in the story?)
Who asked Jesus how many times we should forgive someone?
Did Jesus say we should only forgive a few times, or many times?
What was the servant in the story unable to pay back?
What did the king do when the servant could not pay his debt?
How do you think the servant felt when the king forgave him?
What happened when the servant found someone who owed him money?
Did the servant forgive the other person?
How did the king feel when he heard what the servant had done?
What lesson was Jesus teaching through this story?

2. Connect Through Empathy (How did people feel?)
Imagine you were the servant who was forgiven by the king. How would you feel?
Why do you think the servant was so happy when the king forgave him?
How do you think the king felt when he found out the servant did not forgive others?
Why do you think Jesus wants us to remember how much He has forgiven us?

3. Real-Life Application (What should we do?)

Scenario 1
Your friend accidentally breaks your crayon.
How might you feel?
What would forgiveness look like?


Scenario 2
A classmate cuts in front of you in line and later says, "I'm sorry."
What could you do?
Why would forgiving be the right choice?

Scenario 3
Your little brother or sister takes one of your toys without asking.
What is a kind response?
How can you show forgiveness?

Scenario 4
A friend says something that hurts your feelings but later apologises.
Is it always easy to forgive?
How can Jesus help you forgive?

Scenario 5
Someone spills juice on your artwork by accident.
What would you want them to say?
How could you respond in a way that shows forgiveness?