Children s Liturgy of the Word

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Lauren Holmes
5 years ago
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know how God wanted them to live in relationship with him and with each other, Jesus now issues

1 Children s Liturgy of the Word In today s Gospel we find Jesus giving a sermon on a mountain. Just as Moses went up a mountain to receive the Ten Commandments so that the People of Israel could know how God wanted them to live in relationship with him and with each other, Jesus now issues eight beatitudes (or blessings) to his disciples (and us) so we can enter a new relationship as God s children.

2 These blessings are gifts that require us to have an attitude of poverty of spirit, humbleness, a solidarity with those who are suffering and a yearning for God s peace in the world. o Why? = We will know suffering. It is part of our human condition and if we rely on our own meagre resources just as Vasco Pyjama does in his quest for good value and frugal living we will create a recipe for loneliness and depression. o How? = Jesus is our model and our example of how to be in relationship with God and each other. Jesus reveals his poverty in spirit through his complete surrender and trust in God s love. In this way, he reveals the face of God, his ability to show mercy, love and comfort comes from this most intimate relationship of complete dependence. Moses led the Israelite s to the Promised Land. Jesus leads God s people to the Kingdom of Heaven. There is hope and a future beyond suffering and conflict. A real possibility that God s peace can reign in the world now and forever. This reality (blessing) sustains us to endure grief, fear and suffering. It also gives us the courage and desire to enter into each other s suffering to offer comfort, mercy and hope. We do not wander alone in the world as Vasco Pyjama claims to do. We can find the strength to carry our crosses in this life because we know that burden is shared and our reward is assured. A small table, green cloth, candle, bible and cross. Loving God, we come to hear your Word on this Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We sign our forehead with the sign of the cross as we open our minds to understand to your Word. We sign our lips with the sign of the cross, help us to speak your truth.

3 We sign our hearts with the sign of the cross, may we carry the Good News of Jesus and share it with everyone we meet. A reading from the book of the prophet Zephaniah If you humbly obey the Lord, then come and worship him. If you do right and are humble, you might be safe on that day when the Lord shows his anger. I won't destroy any of you that are truly humble and come to me for safety. The people of Israel who survive will live right and refuse to tell lies. They will eat in peace, and no one will bother them. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs! God always keeps his word. He gives justice to the poor and food to the hungry. R. The Lord sets prisoners free and heals blind eyes. He gives a helping hand to everyone who falls. The Lord loves good people and looks after strangers. R.

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise.

4 A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven. Alleluia. A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down. Jesus' disciples gathered around him, and he taught them: "God blesses those people who depend only on him.

They belong to the kingdom of heaven! "God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort! "God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!

5 They belong to the kingdom of heaven! "God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort! "God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them! "God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want! "God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy! "God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him! "God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children! God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven. "God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Invite the children to reflect on each beatitude (blessing) and share with you what they think it means. Their insights might surprise you! Ask the children for examples of how Jesus is; merciful, pure in heart, a bringer of peace, and a comforter? Invite the children to explore ways that they can follow Jesus example in their own lives, at home, at school, in their neighbourhood and parish community.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius

6 I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Leader: Loving God, help us to grow more and more in our faith as we pray; Reader: We pray for the Church, that we bring the blessings of God s Kingdom into the world by the way we live and relate to each other. Lord, hear us.

Reader: We pray for people who are afraid to trust in God s love, may they grow to be poor in spirit, humble in heart, and experience mercy, comfort and hope. Lord, hear us.

7 Reader: We pray for people who are afraid to trust in God s love, may they grow to be poor in spirit, humble in heart, and experience mercy, comfort and hope. Lord, hear us. Reader: We pray for all the people in our parish community, may we inspire and comfort each other by sharing each other s burdens. Lord, hear us. Reader: We pray for people who mourn and are filled with sorrow, may they know the hope of our promised reward, and we also pray for our relatives and friends who are gathered in God s loving and eternal rest in heaven. Lord, hear us. Leader: Loving God, we make our prayers in the name of Jesus, the Light of the World. Amen. Having been fed at the Table of the Word, we now prepare to share in the celebration of the Eucharist. May we be bringers of peace, comfort and mercy in the coming week.

Children s Liturgy of the Word

Children s Liturgy of the Word This Sunday s Gospel is quite a tough one! But it s also a beautiful challenge to us to choose to love and to respect the sacred identity of each other. We are God-bearers,