In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us a new way of living, a new model for happiness. We learn that God favors those who are humble, afflicted, and persecuted. We also learn that the first will actually be the last in Heaven, and the last will actually be the first in Heaven.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds. Fill us with your peace, love, and understanding. Help us to hear God's message today and recognize His voice in our daily activities. Amen
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
Show the advertisement. Say: Advertisers try to convince us to buy things. They show happy children playing with a toy or a game. Ask: What does this advertiser want us to buy? Do the people in the ad look happy or sad? Say: The advertiser wants us to think that buying the product will make us happy.
Say: Getting a new toy or something else we really want might make us happy for a while, but eventually we lose interest in it. The happiness we feel from getting what we want doesn’t last. Jesus teaches us that true happiness comes from something different. Let’s learn what it means to be truly happy, or blessed.
Read today’s Gospel, Matthew 5:1–12a.
Say: Jesus tells us that we are happy, or blessed, when we are kind to others, forgive them, and live peacefully with them. He says that we are happy when we put our faith in God and do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Ask: What are some examples of times when you have done the right thing or made a good choice? (Accept reasonable responses.) Ask: What can you do to be a peacemaker? (Accept reasonable responses.)
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus for teaching us how to be truly happy.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3bejwArsHc (Accredited to Catholic Kids Media)
Father in heaven, for the sake of bringing others closer to you, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
