In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us the the parable of the wicked tenants. Jesus teaches us that we must follow rules and be good contributing citizens, treating each other with dignity and respect.
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 so we can understand the lesson you have for us today. Help us to be inspired to take your words, internalize them, and put them into practice with action in our daily lives. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,' They will respect my son. 'But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance. 'They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
Source: CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA (2020, OCT). Bad Tenants and Wild grapes. [VIDEO]. YOUTUBE. CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFPDRVuvu3M&list=PLbg4F9JBVbPdA_oon0JJH2NO_TkT1nXZE&index=1
Say: Let’s think of some rules we follow at home or at school. Invite children to name the rules and write each one on the paper. Then discuss why each rule might be in place (for example, to be safe, to maintain good relationships, to ensure all the chores are done).
When you are finished, say: We are asked to follow a lot of rules, aren’t we? All of them exist for good reasons. We follow the rules and instructions that others have put in place to stay safe; to be a good friend, family member, student; and to be helpful. Rules teach us how to live good, healthy lives.
Say: God also has rules that he wants us to follow so that we can live good lives. In the Gospel this week, Jesus tells a parable, or story. The parable teaches us that God sent prophets, or messengers, to teach us how live as God calls us to live. But some people did not listen to and obey the prophets. Whom did God send to teach us about listening to and obeying him? (Jesus) That’s right. God sent us his Son, Jesus. Let’s listen to Jesus’ parable.
Say: Jesus said that everyone who follows him and lives as he teaches us to live will be part of the Kingdom of God. When we follow Jesus’ teachings and live as his disciples, our lives bear fruit. We help build up God’s kingdom.
End by thanking Jesus for teaching us how to live as his disciples and asking him for help to follow him always. Pray the Sign of the Cross.
Title: The Parable of the Wicked Tenants - Sunday School Role Play
Characters:
Teacher (T)
Jesus (J)
Landowner (L)
Servants (S1, S2, S3)
Vineyard Workers (V1, V2, V3)
Wicked Tenants (WT1, WT2, WT3)
Scene: A vineyard with a large grapevine (you can use a drawing or props to represent the vine).
T: (Gathering the children) Hello, everyone! Today, we have a very special story to share with you. It's called the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, and it's a story that Jesus told to teach us an important lesson. Are you ready to listen and learn?
Children: Yes!
T: Great! Let's start our story.
(Scene opens with Jesus standing next to a vine in the vineyard)
J: (Smiling) Hello, children! I want to tell you a story about a vineyard. A long time ago, there was a man who owned a beautiful vineyard.
L: (Enters, pretending to be the landowner) I am the landowner, and this is my vineyard. It's time to harvest the grapes.
V1, V2, V3: (Enter, pretending to be vineyard workers) We are here to help you, sir!
T: (Narrating) The landowner represents God, and the vineyard symbolizes God's kingdom. The workers represent the people of God.
J: (Continuing) The landowner decided to lease the vineyard to some tenants.
WT1, WT2, WT3: (Enter, pretending to be wicked tenants) We will take care of your vineyard for you!
T: (Narrating) These wicked tenants represent people who did not follow God's ways and did bad things.
L: (Hands over the vineyard to the wicked tenants)
S1, S2, S3: (Enter, pretending to be servants) We are here to collect the fruit of the vineyard.
WT1: (Angry) No, you can't have the grapes! (Pushes the servants away)
T: (Narrating) The tenants didn't want to share the grapes with the servants. They were being selfish and mean.
V1: (Confused) Why are they treating us like this?
J: (Explaining) The landowner sent servants to collect the grapes, just like God sends people to share His love and teachings with us.
T: (Narrating) But the wicked tenants didn't listen to the servants sent by the landowner. They even hurt some of them.
S2: (Injured) Ouch! They hurt me!
T: (Narrating) This made the landowner very sad.
L: (Concerned) What should I do?
J: (Advising) The landowner decided to send his own son to talk to the tenants.
S3: (Entering, pretending to be the son of the landowner) I am the landowner's son. I will go and talk to the tenants.
T: (Narrating) The son of the landowner represents Jesus.
WT2: (Plotting) This is our chance! Let's get rid of him!
WT3: (Agreeing) Yes, let's do it!
T: (Narrating) The wicked tenants thought that if they got rid of the son, they could take the vineyard for themselves.
WT3: (To WT2) Let's do something bad!
(C1, C2, C3, pretend to be birds and start making chirping noises)
T: (Narrating) They made a plan to hurt the son.
(Son is surrounded by the wicked tenants)
WT1: (Pretending to push the son)
S3: (Falls to the ground, pretending to be hurt)
T: (Narrating) They hurt the son and threw him out of the vineyard.
L: (Worried) Oh, no! What have you done?
T: (Narrating) The landowner was very sad and angry. He decided to take the vineyard away from the wicked tenants.
L: (Taking the vineyard back) You are no longer my tenants!
T: (Narrating) The landowner represents God, and He takes His love and blessings away from those who do bad things.
J: (Explaining) Children, the moral of this story is that God wants us to listen to Him, be kind, and share His love with others. When we don't, we can lose the wonderful things He gives us.
T: (Concluding) So, remember, always be good and share God's love with everyone you meet.
Children: We will, Teacher!
T: Great job, everyone! You've learned an important lesson today. Let's all strive to be good, kind, and loving, just as God wants us to be.
Father in Heaven we thank you for the lesson today. Please bless each one of us in this room. Please give us the grace to be good contributing citizens that are kind to each other. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
