Children's Liturgy Series: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

In today's Gospel we learn about Jesus' teaching about the two greatest commandments. To love God above everything, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

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 us with your peace, love, and understanding.  Help us to understand what it means to love God above everything.  Give us the patience to love others as we love our own self. We ask all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,"Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." 

The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." 

And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

1. What characters were mentioned in the story? 
2. What was the key message?
3. Who are some people we can show love to?
4. What are some ways we can show love to our family, friends, or even people we don’t know?
5. How does it feel when someone is kind to you?
   

Reinforce that love means being kind, sharing, helping others, listening, and caring, even when there is something else we'd rather do.

1. Create a set of flashcards of loving vs unloving actions. 
2. Draw two columns on the whiteboard titled: Loving Actions vs Unloving Actions
3. Have each child pick a card and decide which column the action belongs under.  They can stick the card onto the board under the appropriate column. While they're up, ask them if they can provide an example of where they've seen this happen in real life.

Father in Heaven, thank you for teaching us how to love others through you own actions of serving others during your lifetime here on earth. Help us remember your examples and show other love the way you did. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.