Children’s Liturgy
SOURCE: 52 Sundays
SOURCE: Adorers of the Blood of Christ
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Children Messages
16th Sunday of Year A
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Good and Evil Exist Together
Like the weeds and wheat in today’s parable, good and evil exist together in our world. Discuss the values in today’s world that might be considered weeds.
Check the newspaper and magazines for examples of people who are doing good and overcoming evil. Talk about what is being done. Pray for these people.
SOURCE: OSV Lifelong Catechesis
Read Alouds
16th Sunday of Year A
Build.
Plant.
Grow.
Santa Clara University
Sunday Index for children ages 5-13
Using each lesson plan, directors of religious education, school teachers, and parents can:
- Use the recommended key discussion points when reading weekly messages with your children.
- Read aloud a classic picture storybook linked to the moral virtue in the weekly readings.
- Manage creative activities including arts and crafts, games, and gardening projects.
- End with a reflection activity using a case study and a prayer.
THE WORD THIS WEEK
Compassion
SUNDAY READ ALOUD
The Can Man lived in Tim’s building until the auto shop he worked at closed. Unable to find a job, he’s now homeless and relies on the cash he gets from redeeming empty cans to survive. When Tim learns that his parents won’t give him enough money to buy him a skateboard for his birthday, he takes his cue from the Can Man and decides to earn the money himself. However, while Tim amasses several bags of cans, the Can Man finds almost nothing. Tim has been venturing out ahead and collecting in the homeless man’s territory. The Can Man harbors no hard feelings and in fact, helps Tim maneuver through the redemption center. Eventually, Tim finds that his desire for a skateboard is not equal to the Can Man’s need for a winter coat and he gives him the money from his efforts. Tim is moved by compassion within his heart.
SUNDAY CORRELATIONS
SOURCE: Teaching Catholic Kids
Nice AND Strong
First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Everyone thought Elaine was a nice person. She smiled, said “Hello” to everyone she met, and went out her way to help other people. She liked people, and people liked her.
But the real test of a nice person is conflict. What does a nice person do when they get hurt? Do they get mad, or do they do something about the hurt? Elaine used to ignore the situation and wait for her anger to go away. But, that created a problem. Elaine’s anger didn’t go away. It just looked for safe ways to get out.
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30
Johnny really looked up to his older brother Doug. Johnny tried to play with Doug, share special time with Doug, even told jokes to Doug. But Doug thought Johnny was a pest. He didn’t want anything to do with his younger brother. In fact, Doug was mean to Johnny.
One day, Johnny told Doug, “This is a joke.” Johnny drew a line with his toe and said, “I dare you to step across this line.” Doug crossed the line. “Now you’re on my side!” Johnny exclaimed. Doug punched Johnny in the face. As Doug looked down, he saw fear in Johnny’s tearing eyes. “Why did you do that?” Johnny asked. “Because you’re my brother,” Doug replied.
“Because you’re my brother.” That became Doug’s excuse for his mean behavior. Soon, Johnny stopped looking up to his brother and began to wait for the day he would even the score with Doug.
In the meantime, Johnny started swimming in his pool to work out his anger. Soon, his parents signed Johnny up for a swimming club, then a water polo club. Within a year, Johnny grew stronger and stronger. His feeling of anger turned to feelings of pride. Johnny had become a valued water athlete. Hating or fearing his older brother didn’t seem that important any more.
SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com – All materials found in word-sunday.com are the property of Larry Broding (Copyright 1999-2022). Viewers may copy any material found in these pages for their personal use or for use in any non-profit ministry. Materials may not be sold or used for personal financial gain.
Edith Stein and Companions: On the Way to Auschwitz
“Edith Stein and Companions: On the Way to Auschwitz,” by Father Paul Hamans, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2008, 310 pages, Grades 10 and higher.
The book raises important questions. How should we respond to terrible moral evil? Should we ever do anything that might put other people’s lives at risk? Christians cannot remain silent in the face of sinful depravity, but what should you do when you suspect that a protest will likely bring down a frightful consequence? These are all complex questions that don’t have easy answers. Father Hamans shows the great faith and courage of the Dutch martyrs throughout the biographies. A number of the Catholic Jews were frightened and terrified of being arrested, but all persevered in the Faith during this dreadful time. This is not a book that is enjoyable to read, but rather a book that is appropriate for our times when Catholics are being martyred in a number of countries. Father Hamans has given remarkable face to heroic martyrdom of the Catholic Jews of Holland. This book is available from Ignatius Press, and a number of Catholic bookstores. I hope you take the chance to read it.
SOURCE: Southern Nebraska Register, Catholic Diocese of Lincoln (The image and link to the video embedded above are not part of Terrence Nollen’s review.)
Catechist Resources
16th Sunday of Year A
Young Catholics 
Pflaum Gospel Weeklies - Faith Formation Program SOURCE: PFLAUM Gospel Resources
Teaching Catholic Kids 
The Religion Teacher | Catholic Religious Education 
Catholic Icing