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, made in the image and likeness of our divine Creator. We are called to respect that sacred dignity of each person. It is easy to react with anger, resentment and bitterness and stay locked in that attitude. We convince ourselves that we have become this way because of the actions of others. But the hard fact is that we make a choice to hate and wallow in unforgiveness and bitterness. Of course, God still sees us as beloved children even when we no longer recognise ourselves. A famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi; An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
We are called to love as Jesus loves and to see each other through his eyes. It is possible to be hateful and lawful at the same time. It is easy to love only the people who love us. But Jesus is calling us to transform our global human community through love and tolerance. A small table, green cloth, candle, bible and cross. Loving God, we come to hear your Word on this Seventh 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. 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 Leviticus The Lord told Moses to say to all of the people of Israel: Keep yourselves holy. I am the Lord your God, and I am holy. Don't secretly hate someone. Correct anyone who does wrong, and you won't be guilty of that person's sin. Don't try to get even. And don't hold grudges. You must love others as much as you love yourself. I am the Lord your God. The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name! With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. R. The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick. Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship him. R. A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians Brothers and sisters: Don't fool yourselves! If any of you think you are wise in the things of this world, you will have to become foolish before you can be truly wise. This is because God considers the wisdom of this world to be foolish. It is just as the Scriptures say, "God catches the wise when they try to outsmart him." The Scriptures also say, "The Lord knows that the plans made by wise people are useless." The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Alleluia, alleluia. Whoever keeps the word of Christ, grows perfect in the love of God. Alleluia. A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew Jesus said to his disciples: "You know that you have been taught, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. "When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek. If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, loan it to them. "You have heard people say, 'Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.' But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. "He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. "If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that?
Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what's so great about that? Don't even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Invite the children to share with you the times when they have felt hurt and angry with someone. Invite them to describe the feelings. Explore with the children what they think Jesus means when he tells us to love our enemies? Is that an easy thing to do? Explore with the children how they think the world would be different if people let go of hate and stopped holding grudges. Invite the children to pray in their own words to have the courage to love like Jesus loves. 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 are carriers of God s love in the world. Lord, hear us. Reader: We pray for people who are angry toward those who have hurt or wronged them, help them to find peace in their hearts. Lord, hear us. Reader: We pray for all the people in our parish community, may we overcome any divisions and conflict in our parish, homes, workplaces and the wider community. Lord, hear us. Reader: We pray for people who have died in wars and victims of crime. We also pray for those who have inflicted injustice and violence to others, may they all know of God s healing love and eternal rest. We especially remember our deceased family and friends. Lord, hear us. Leader: Loving God, we make our prayers in the name of Jesus, who teaches us to love. Amen.
Having been fed at the Table of the Word, we now prepare to share in the celebration of the Eucharist. May we be people who carry the love of Jesus to others in the coming week.