Children's Liturgy Series: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C)

In today's Gospel we learn about Lazarus and the rich man, and how we are all called to share what we have with those who have little.

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scrapsthat fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames. 'Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Try this simulation with the children. Divide the class into two groups and assign a drawing task. For example, ask them to draw a picture of a sunset. To the first group, give each child just one crayon. To the second group, provide an overabundance of art supplies.

Observe carefully what happens so you may share these observations with the group. Perhaps you will hear complaints from the group that has less. Perhaps the children will ask if they can share the drawing tools among themselves. When you have observed the class's response, simply stop the exercise and describe for the class what happened when the class began to discover that some had more and some had fewer coloring tools. Introduce today's Gospel by saying that Jesus told a story about a situation that was like this one.

Ask: What did the rich man do with his money? (He feasted every day.) What did the poor man, Lazarus, do? (He begged at the gate of the rich man.) What did Lazarus want from the rich man? (the scraps from the rich man's table) What happened to each man after he died? (Lazarus received eternal reward; the rich man went to the land of the dead.)

Ask the children what they think about the situation described. Help them to identify why the rich man received judgment (because he did not share his possessions with the poor man, Lazarus; note that death itself was not a punishment [both men died]).

Ask the children to name some options that the rich man had in his life in regards to the poor man. Say: God wants us to share our possessions with those who are in need. Ask: Did the rich man in the parable know this about God? (Be sure that the children say yes—the Gospel reading says that this is the teaching of Moses and the prophets). Then ask the children to identify some reasons the rich man might have had for not sharing his possessions.

Together, make a list of some ways in which the children can share of their possessions with those who are poor. Have them each write one commitment to do so on a slip of paper and use this as part of a concluding prayer.

Prepare a prayer table that includes an open Bible and a basket. Conclude by praying together the responsorial psalm for today. 

Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen