Children’s Liturgy – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Begin with a few moments of quiet.

Invite all present to sit comfortably.
When sitting comfortably, take three deep breaths, as you breathe in feel your lungs filling all the way up, when they are full slowly release your breath and feel your lungs emptying out fully. Repeat this three times.
Now return to breathing normally.

Use some of this quietening music to help come into a space of prayer

Opening ourselves to the Presence of God in our lives

Have a conversation, allowing each person present a few moments to think about and to reply to the following.
Thinking back over the week, let us share with one another
What is it that I want to say thank you for?
What is it that want to say I am sorry for?

Now begin with the following prayer:

Dear God,
Thank you that we can celebrate Jesus
Thank you for all He did for us
And all that He continues to do
Help us to trust in you
Even when we don’t understand what’s happening
We know you work things for good
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!

Introduce the Gospel

Today is the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks to us about coming to Him with all our worries and how He helps us with those worries…. We are going to read from the Gospel of Matthew.

Read the Gospel Matthew 11:25-30

^{At that time, Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put in on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”}

Have a Conversation about the Gospel

Use some of the following questions to help in having a conversation about the message in the Gospel.

What do you remember from today’s reading?

Today we hear Jesus calling all people who are working hard, who are tired and worried to come to him. Why do you think he does this?

Jesus knows that we all have times when we find life difficult. We all have times when even though we try hard, we can’t do something. We all have times when we are tired, fed up and would like to give up.

Can you think of a time when you have felt like this? Did anyone help you or comfort you during this time? Who helped you? What did they do?

Jesus says his yoke is easy. He does not mean an egg yolk! This yoke is spelled differently. It is a sort of wooden bar that farmers around the world use to make it easier to pull heavy ploughs. So Jesus is saying that he will help us.

Jesus says in today’s reading that he is always there to comfort and support us. That when we are tired, worried or finding things difficult, we can turn to him and find rest.

What do you think that this means? If we take our worries and the things that we find difficult to Jesus, he will be there for us.

How do you think we can share our worries, or the things we find hard, with Jesus?

We can share our worries in our prayers and we can pray for help during the most difficult times.

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is there with us when things are hard?

Just knowing that we are not alone can make a big difference when we are finding life hard. God is with us always, when we are alone, but also in the people who help and support us.

So, this week, let’s remember we can turn to God when things are hard. But also, let’s look after others who are finding things difficult and do our best to help them. We can show them that they are not alone by the way we treat them.

End with a prayer

God, thank you for caring for me.
Today, I put my worries in your hands.
I give these to you right now and
I trust you to take care of me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

A video to help see the Gospel Differently