In today's gospel Jesus teaches us about how He is like the vine and we are the branches.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen
Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its ownunless it remains on the vine,so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fireand they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt5yNkqOtGU (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)
Ask: Who is the vine? (Jesus) Who is the vine grower? (God the Father) Who are the branches? (We are.) Say: Jesus calls us to stay as close to him as branches are to a vine and to love and serve one another.
Show children a drawing of the vine and branches on construction paper. Say: Let’s each write our name on one of the branches to show that we are close to Jesus. Distribute pens and markers and have children write their name. Then say: We can stay close to Jesus by praying. We can pray for Jesus’ help or thank him for something we are grateful for.
Ask: What are some ways we can stay close to Jesus and love and serve one another? (Accept all reasonable responses, such as reading the Bible, going to Mass, being kind to a new student at school, helping our teacher.) Invite children to write or draw a picture of a way they can stay close to Jesus. If there isn’t enough room for all children to write and draw at the same time, have children draw on a separate sheet of paper and then tape or glue their drawing to the larger sheet. If you have received permission and time allows, hang the picture and admire the children’s work.
Invite children to pray this Act of Faith, Hope, and Love with you. Have them repeat each line after you:Jesus, I believe in you.Jesus, I hope in you.Jesus, I love you.Amen
Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, 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
