In today's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the foolish virgins and teaches us that we must be prepared for when He comes again.
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 have the wisdom to understand the lesson you have for us today. Help us to be prepared to meet you each and every day of our lives, for we know not the hour of when you will come. Amen.
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.
'While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us! 'But he said in reply,' Amen, I say to you, I do not know you. 'Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
Source: CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA (2020, NOV). The wise and foolish virgins! [VIDEO]. YOUTUBE. CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA. CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA (2020, NOV). ALL SAINTS DAY! [VIDEO]. YOUTUBE. CATHOLIC KIDS MEDIA. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=-GCGQUQVN2E&LIST=PLBG4F9JBVBPDA_OON0JJH2NO_TKT1NXZE
Say: Let’s imagine that we are planning a surprise party for a friend. How would we go about preparing for this party? Let’s make a list of the things we would need to do to prepare. Create a list that includes items such as preparing an invitation list, setting the date and place for the party, planning the food, choosing the decorations, planning activities, and so on.
Say: There’s a lot of preparation needed for a surprise party. What would happen if the guest of honor arrived before we were ready? What would happen if the guest of honor was delayed in his or her arrival? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
Say: Jesus talked about the importance of being prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven, using the example of a wedding feast. Let us listen carefully to what Jesus taught.
Say: In Jesus’ time, the bridegroom traveled from his home to the home of the bride to meet the bride and bring her back to his home. The virgins in this parable were family members and friends of the bride, whose job it was to greet the bridegroom and escort him to the bride. What did they need to do to be prepared for this job? (They had to prepare their lamps and meet the bridegroom.) What happened in the story? (Some of the women didn’t bring enough oil for their lamps, and when the bridegroom was delayed, they were unable to meet him.) Were these foolish virgins able to attend the wedding feast? (No, they were unable to accompany the bridegroom to the feast; they were not able to attend the feast because they arrived too late.)
Say: Jesus concludes this parable by reminding his listeners that we must stay prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven because we do not know when the Kingdom of Heaven will come. What are some things that we should be doing to stay prepared to receive the Kingdom of Heaven? (praying every day, learning what God wants us to do, obeying the Commandments)
Conclude in prayer together for the strength to prepare to receive the Kingdom of Heaven when it comes.
Father in Heaven we thank you for the lesson today. Please bless each one of us in this room. Please fill us with the Holy Spirit and give us the gift of wisdom, so we can know how to be prepared for when Jesus comes again. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.