Children's Liturgy Series: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us that God has given each and everyone one of us a gift. These talents are to be used for the service of others. To enter the kingdom of Heaven, we need to be fruitful with the talents we are given.

Father in Heaven we praise and glorify You.  We thank you for bringing us together for this Children's Liturgy lesson.  Thank you for the children that want to hear your stories. Please send us the Holy Spirit so that we can understand the message you have for us today.  Help us to have the ability to recognize and appreciate the gifts you have given to us and to be able to use these gifts for the service of others.  Because we understand that by serving others, we ultimately serve you Lord. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. 

Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money. "After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. 

He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more. 'His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' 

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more. 'His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' 

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' 

His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"

Distribute a sheet of paper and a pencil to each person in the group. Ask: What are some things that you have learned to do well? Allow time for each person to think about this question and to make a list of at least five things.

Say: We all have particular skills and abilities, and each person’s combination of skills and abilities is unique. Our skills and abilities are among God’s many gifts to us.

Ask: What are we to do with the skills and abilities that we have been given? Allow time for students to answer the question and then say: Jesus taught about what to do with our abilities in a parable that we hear in this Sunday’s Gospel. Today’s Gospel uses the word “talents.” When Jesus used this word, he was referring to a kind of coin. Today we use this word to describe a person’s special abilities. 

Ask: Why were the first two servants rewarded by the master? (They used the talents that they were given and returned more money to the master than they were given.) 

Why was the third servant punished by the master? (He buried the talents that he was given and returned to the master only the money he had received.) What do you think this means about what Jesus wants us to do with our talents? (Jesus wants us to develop and use the gifts and talents that we have been given.)

Say: One of the things that Jesus would like us to do is to use our gifts and talents to help others. Look back over the list of skills and abilities that you made earlier. Make a list now of all of the ways that you can think of to use your skills and abilities to help others. Try to identify at least 10 things. Allow time for them to complete this activity. If necessary, suggest that they work in pairs until each person has identified 10 ways to help others.

Say: Jesus does not want us to bury our talents. Choose one thing from your list that you will do this week. Write that one thing on a slip of paper. We will place these slips of paper in the basket during our prayer as a sign of our commitment and offering to God.

Conclude in prayer together, thanking God for his gifts and asking for his help in using these gifts to serve others. Invite each person to place his or her slip of paper in the basket. When all the papers have been collected, pray the Prayer to the Holy Spirit or the Prayer for Vocations.

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 use the gifts that God gave us, to be fruitful, through helping others.