In today's Gospel we learn about what it means to love our neighbors
Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together today for this Children's Liturgy lesson. Please send us the Holy Spirit and open our hearts and minds so we can understand your teaching of how to love our neighbors. Help us to be reflections of your image and goodness to others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Invite the children to name times when it is important to be correct or exact (for example, taking a test, arriving on time for an appointment, or following directions). List their answers on the board.
Go through the list and ask: What are the consequences to others and to myself when I am not careful about each of these things? (I get a lower grade; someone has to wait for me; the teacher has to take time from the class to repeat the directions for me.)
Say: Jesus knows that we are human and cannot always be perfect. He does not expect us to know how to do everything correctly all the time. But Jesus does expect us to serve the Kingdom of God by following his example of loving others, including our enemies, and being generous to those who need help.
Share a personal story with the children about a time when you saw a need and tried to help, even though it didn’t work out perfectly. Explain the difference your actions made to the person(s) you helped as well as to yourself. Highlight any possible consequences to others or yourself had you not done your best to reach out in a loving way.
Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his listeners that he wants us to show by our loving actions that the Kingdom of God is already here. We don’t have to be perfect in everything, but we have to love others the way Jesus did.
Invite the children to pray silently, in their own words, asking the Holy Spirit to help them be generous and love others as Jesus did.
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
