In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the two greatest commandments--to love God and love one another. We also learn that the first commandment is expressed by doing the second commandment.
Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together for this Children's Liturgy lesson. Thank you for reminding us how to love you. Please send us the Holy Spirit and give us the courage to love our neighbors despite our differences. We understand that by loving our neighbor, we show our love to you Lord. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
Source: CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA (2020, OCT). The Greatest Commandments! [VIDEO]. YOUTUBE. CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz4_uOL5m00&list=PLbg4F9JBVbPdA_oon0JJH2NO_TkT1nXZE&index=2
Show a poster listing the Ten Commandments. Review the Ten Commandments with the group and talk about what each of the Commandments mean. Ask the group to consider the question: Which of the Commandments is the greatest of all? Allow time to discuss and debate this.
Say: This same question has been debated by teachers in the Jewish tradition. Some teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question directly. We’re pretty familiar with Jesus’ reply to them. Let’s listen to what Jesus says to them in today’s Gospel.
Ask: What did Jesus answer? (Love God and love your neighbor.) Were our answers like Jesus’ answer? (Accept all reasonable responses.)
Say: Jesus’ answer suggests that our love of God can be measured by our love of neighbor. The two are closely connected. Loving our neighbor makes our love of God visible. Let’s make a commitment to each do one thing this week that shows our love of God and our neighbor. Provide paper and pencils, and allow time for the group to write personal commitments.
Collect the papers in the basket and place this basket in your prayer space. Pray together for God’s help to honor these commitments this week and to always show our love for God by loving our neighbor. Pray the Act of Love.
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 have the courage to show our love to God by loving others. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
