Children's Liturgy Series: The 3nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

In today's Gospel, we learn about the beginning of Jesus' ministry and call for disciples. We see how the first disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John, are immediately compelled to leave everything and follow Jesus. We reflect on what would it take for us to do the same?

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Present your group with several scenarios such as the following. Ask the group how they are likely to respond in each situation.

Scenario 1: You are doing your homework, and the phone rings. You answer the phone, and it’s your best friend calling.
Scenario 2: You are watching your favorite television show, and you are called to dinner.
Scenario 3: You are playing outside with your friend, and you are told it’s time to clean your room.

Ask: What is something that is common to each scenario? (There’s an interruption.) Say: Today’s Gospel tells the story of how Jesus’ first disciples responded when Jesus “interrupted” their daily routine. Let’s listen carefully to the Gospel.

Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 4:12-23.

Ask: How did Peter and Andrew and James and John respond when Jesus called them? (They left their work and followed him “at once” and “immediately.”) How do you think you’d react if someone you didn’t know very well asked you to stop doing something important? (Accept all reasonable answers.) What kind of person must Jesus have been to bring forth such a response from the fishermen? (Accept all reasonable answers.) What does the Gospel tell us that Jesus did after he called his first disciples? (He traveled in Galilee, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the kingdom, and curing people of their diseases.)

Ask: How does God call us today? What work does Jesus ask us to do? How do we respond? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

Say: It is not always easy to walk away from the things we want to do in order to do what Jesus wants us to do. In order to be able to respond generously to Jesus’ invitation to follow him, we must attend to our relationship with him through prayer, both private prayer and prayer with the community. Today let’s pray together that we will respond as quickly as the first disciples when Jesus calls us to follow him.

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