Children's Liturgy Series: 4th Sunday of Lent (Cycle C)

In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us about forgiveness through the parable of the prodigal son.

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.  Fill our hearts with peace, love and wisom.  Help us to understand the message you have for us today. We ask all this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything,a severe famine struck that country,and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizenswho sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,but nobody gave him any. 

Coming to his senses he thought,‘How many of my father’s hired workershave more than enough food to eat,but here am I, dying from hunger.I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.I no longer deserve to be called your son;treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’So he got up and went back to his father. 

While he was still a long way off,his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.His son said to him,‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;I no longer deserve to be called your son.’But his father ordered his servants,‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.Then let us celebrate with a feast,because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;he was lost, and has been found.’Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the fieldand, on his way back, as he neared the house,he heard the sound of music and dancing.He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.The servant said to him,‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’He became angry,and when he refused to enter the house,his father came out and pleaded with him.He said to his father in reply,‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders;yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’He said to him,‘My son, you are here with me always;everything I have is yours.But now we must celebrate and rejoice,because your brother was dead and has come to life again;he was lost and has been found.'"

Who are the main characters in the story?
The main characters are the father, the older son, and the younger son.

What did the younger son ask his father for?
The younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance.

What did the younger son do with the money?
The younger son spent all his money on things that were not good for him, like parties and other wasteful activities.

What happened to the younger son after he spent all his money?
After spending all his money, the younger son ended up poor and hungry.

How did the younger son feel when he was poor and hungry?
The younger son felt regretful and sad when he was poor and hungry.

What did the younger son decide to do after he had no money left?
The younger son decided to go back to his father and ask for forgiveness.

How did the father react when the younger son came back home?
The father was very happy and welcomed the younger son back with open arms, showing love and forgiveness.

What did the older son think about the father's reaction?
The older son felt jealous and upset because he thought it was unfair that the younger son was being celebrated after wasting his inheritance.

Why do you think the father forgave the younger son?
The father forgave the younger son because he loved him unconditionally and was happy to have him back, regardless of his mistakes.

What can we learn from this story?
We can learn about the importance of forgiveness, unconditional love, and the joy of reconciliation.

Dear Jesus,
We are grateful for the story that teaches us about your unconditional love and forgiveness. Help us to remember that no matter what mistakes we make, you are always ready to welcome us back with open arms.