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Catholic Resources

The readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C speak about being called by God and sent to do His work.

THEMES: The Beatitudes, The many blessings in our lives, Knowing God is with us when we don’t feel blessed

SOURCE: Young Catholics

Recommended Handouts

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SOURCE: Society of Christian Doctrine, Catholic Mom, Diocese of Salford Office for Liturgy,

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Sunday Bulletin

Liturgical Activities

THE LITURGY CENTRE

SOURCE: the Liturgy Centre, Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Click to download PDF

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Family Activities

OUR SUNDAY VISITOR

Decide on ways to simplify your family’s lifestyle…
Recall stories from your extended family that demonstrate trust and faith in God…
Discuss ways your family can share what has been given to you…
Find ways for the family to relax and have fun without spending money…

SOURCE: Our Sunday Visitor: Lifelong Catechesis

Word Sunday

Family Poor Box

Unlike Matthew’s Beatitudes, Luke had a set of Beatitudes and Woes. Luke’s Beatitudes comforted the poor, the dejected, and oppressed; God was with them. His Woe’s condemned the rich, haughty, and the arrogant; God would judge such harshly. In the time of Jesus, five percent of the population controlled 95% of the wealth. The few controlled the economy. So, Jesus, in Luke, could easily criticize the rich few. While economic times have changed, the temptations remain the same. It’s easy to forget the poor and the powerless. It’s easy to get caught up in one’s wealth and self importance.

To focus on those in need (and away from the self), set up a family Poor Box. Place you change in the box and encourage your family members to do the same. Display the box in a prominent place to remind your family of those who God will truly bless.

SOURCE: Word-Sunday.com All materials found in word-sunday.com are the property of Larry Broding (©1999-2021). 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.

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Catholic Parenting

CATHOLIC MINUTE (8:44) – Every Catholic Mom and Dad parent desires to raise good kids. But what does raising good kids mean? This is where the beauty of the Catholic faith comes in. The wisdom of Catholicism tells us that the exercise virtue is key to becoming a good person. Good kids are a result acquiring virtue. Put another way, if you’re interested in raising children Catholic, they must acquire virtue.

Non-Denomination

Beatitudes

Packet is for Gospel of Matthew, but can be used for Luke’s version, too. PDF packets with handouts designed for Sunday School students in preschool through 4th grade.

SOURCE: Free Sunday School Curriculum – New Testament Lessons | Old Testament Lessons

Sermon’s 4 Kids

In Search for Happiness

Coloring Page › Crossword › Fill in the Blank n › Multiple Choice › Word Search › Worship Bulletin

SOURCE: Sermons4kids.com

OBJECT LESSONS

LOYOLA
PRESS

LOYOLA PRESS

Jesus teaches the crowd the way to happiness.

Making the Connection

1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

Grades 1-3

Even very young children may be exposed to commercials and other messages suggesting that happiness can be found in acquiring material goods and focusing on oneself at the expense of others. Help children learn that our faith in God and the actions we take to help build up his kingdom are the sources of true, lasting happiness.

Making the Connection

4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣

Grades 4-6

Older children are heavily influenced by our culture’s vision of success. In the Beatitudes, we are asked to look critically at our culture’s definition of success based on an alternative vision, the values of the Kingdom of God.

Making the Connection

7️⃣8️⃣

Grades 7 and 8

Young people are often influenced by the many media messages they hear about what makes a person happy. In the Beatitudes, Jesus describes happiness in the Kingdom of God, teaching us that things are not always as they appear to be.

Lectionary Resources

Catechist Background and Preparation
Primary Session
Intermediate Session
Junior High School

Catholic Doctrine

Our Vocation to Beatitude

PRIMARY SESSION – We all want to be happy. God has placed the desire for happiness in our hearts. We look for happiness throughout our lives. The desire for happiness was placed in our hearts so that we would turn to God. God can satisfy our desire for happiness. The Beatitudes promise ultimate happiness to all those who trust in God. The Beatitudes show us how to find happiness in caring for and respecting others. True happiness is not found in worldly things but in God alone.

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CATHOLIC KIDS BULLETIN

Teacher and mom, THERESA, creates Kids’ Bulletins, a resource for Catholic kids about the readings for Sunday’s Mass every week. More resources from Theresa can be found at Teachers Pay Teachers website. Click on image/text to download entire bulletin for your children.

ADORERS OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

When We are Good,
We are Blessed

This week St. Luke gives us his version of the Beatitudes in which Jesus teaches us that when we are good and do what is right we will be blessed and happy no matter what else is going on in our lives. We are blessed and happy because we love and trust God even when we are poor, even when we are hungry, even when we are sad, and even when other people don’t like us and say mean things about us.

This does not mean that the only time we are blessed is when we are poor, hungry, sad, and lonely but in those times if we continue to lean on God then we know everything will be all right. It’s when we have lots of things, food and friends that it can be hard to remember to love and rely on God. It is hard to remember that we NEED God when we have everything else. Needing and loving God helps us to be good people and to love and help others.

Jesus is telling us we need to be careful so that everything we have: our nice homes, clothes, food, friends and popularity don’t keep us from trusting God. We need to know that the good things in our lives come from God and must be shared.

SOURCE: Children’s Liturgy

SERMONS 4 KIDS – GOSPEL

In Search of Happiness…

Objects suggested: Bubbles for blowing; few dollars in cash; bag of chips; video game controller

EXCERPT: I am sure that everyone has experienced the joy of blowing bubbles. (Blow bubbles at the kids.) Isn’t it funny how something so simple can make so many people happy? It isn’t just for kids either! I have even seen teenagers and adults laughing and having fun blowing bubbles and trying to catch them.

There is just one problem with the happiness that comes from blowing bubbles — it doesn’t last! The minute you reach out and touch one of the bubbles, it will burst. (Blow bubbles and have kids try to touch them.) Many times we chase the bubble, but it is always just out of reach and as soon as it touches the ground, the bubble is gone.

Isn’t this true for so many people today? A lot of people are chasing after happiness, but like the bubbles, happiness is always just out of reach. Or, just when we think we have it, our bubble may burst. What are some of the things that people believe will make them happy but may fall flat? (Pause for responses.)

SOURCE: SERMONS 4 Kids – All Rights Reserved; Click on title to read entire sermon.

SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL

Crowds and Crowds and Crowds

By Dr. Carol J Miller

Objects suggested: None

EXCERPT:

One day there was a very big crowd of people all waiting for Jesus to come. When Jesus saw all the people, he knew what they wanted, and he was happy to give it to them. They wanted to hear his words about God–– and many of them were sick and wanted to get well. Some people in the crowd had physical diseases––some had mental illnesses––some may have gotten hurt in accidents. Luke tells us that people were trying to touch him because they felt the power of his healing even by touching him!

Here’s a question for you: Do you think Jesus knew all these people? Huge crowds gathered wherever he went. Once the crowds, trying to get close, almost pushed him into the lake! Once so many crowded into his house that nobody could get in or out! So do you think Jesus knew all these thousands of people? (Accept all answers). I don’t think he could have known them all. But whether he knew them or not, Jesus healed the people who came to him.

SERMON WRITER – SECOND READING

First Fruits

By Richard Niell Donovan

Objects suggested: If possible, bring seasonal fruit, washed and nicely displayed in a bowl, to show the children.

EXCERPT:Do you like fruit? Most of us do––especially if the fruit is fresh and ripe and juicy. These days, most supermarkets have fresh fruit of some sort all year around, but that wasn’t always so. In the olden days, people would do their best to keep apples through the winter, but it wasn’t easy. If they put the apples outside, they would freeze. If they kept them inside, they would be too warm and would spoil. Usually, people kept apples in a cellar that they had dug in the ground. If they were careful, they could have apples through most of the winter, but the time usually came when they had no fresh fruit at all….

In the Bible, there was something that the Israelites call “first fruits.” First fruits were the first fruits to be harvested in the springtime.

SOURCE: Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.

SERMON WRITER – GOSPEL

Looking Upside Down

By Lois Parker Edstrom

Objects suggested: Snow globe, if available, or use directions supplied below to make one.

EXCERPT: Do you ever stand on your head just for fun? Isn’t it odd how things look a bit different when you’re upside down?

Perhaps you have a snow globe in your home or have noticed one in a store. It is a clear ball that has a scene inside. It may be a Christmas scene with a snowman, Christmas tree or reindeer; or it may be set like a village with trees and stores. Whatever the scene, the fun of a snow globe happens when you turn it upside down. Snow begins to fall and cover the objects in the globe. Everything inside the globe looks a bit different after it has been turned upside down.

We learn something about God’s kingdom, in heaven and here on earth when ideas are turned upside down. We may think that the happiest people are those who win, are strong, are rich, do well, and have everything they want.

MARKKULA CENTER

Virtue of the Week

No packet available for 6th, 7th, and 8th week of ordinary time.

SOURCE: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University; “Build. Plant. Grow.” = a free faith formation resource which aligns with the Liturgical Year of the Roman Catholic Church. The accompanying video is NOT associated with Markkula Center.

WORSHIPING WITH CHILDREN

Good Guys and Bad Guys

Having worked through the lectionary cycle three times, this is the first time there has been a sixth Sunday in Epiphany. After working with the texts for today I am beginning to suspect that the lectionary committee dumped hard texts here knowing they would not show up too often. Jeremiah, the psalmist and Luke clearly separate and describe the good guys and the bad guys. That appeals to children, but most adults recognize more nuance. Paul draws on his logic training to urge people to believe Jesus’ resurrection. Children and others not big on logic do not get it. So, it is one of those Sundays on which the worship leaders must identify a theme that fits their congregation and then find ways to explore that theme that make sense to all worshipers. For example,…. READ MORE

SOURCE: Worshiping with Children: A blog by Carolyn C. Brown, a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).

BUTTERCUPSICLE (3:28) – A quick and easy explanation of the Beatitudes of Jesus.

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Black History Month Connection

WILSHIRE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (8:04) – follows Matthew’s account, NOT Luke’s.

The Beatitudes:

From Slavery to Civil Rights

Children’s picture book written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Tim Ladwig, and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (c) 2009. Written in the spirit of Emmanuel–God with us–the book explores how faith fuels the African American freedom struggle. Tim Ladwig uses imagery to illustrate the journey from slavery to freedom to illustrates what the everyday implications are of the blessings Jesus announces in Matthew 5:1-12.

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BECKY BRYAN (8:23) – A fan film based on the best selling book 100 dresses by Eleanor Estes – RELATED: READ ALOUD VIDEO

The Hundred Dresses

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, tells the story of the established girls in a class teasing the new girl incessantly about the one dress she wears everyday and the 100 dresses she claims to have at home. It is told from the perspective of Maddie who worries about her own poor clothes but is part of the teasing group and is very uncomfortable about what is going on, but does nothing about it. Finally the girl leaves school leaving behind 100 drawings of beautiful dresses and a letter from her father about looking for a place where she will not be teased so cruelly. The book is way too long to be read in worship, but because the situation is so quickly recognized by children, you can tell parts of it in your own words and ponder it with the children.

People in Jesus’ day often thought rich people were smart and good and poor people were dumb and bad – why else would they end up poor. That is often still the case today. Part of Jesus’ point in this text is that poor people (or poorly dressed people) are as much God’s children as are wealthier people. God loves and cares for them all. Avoid the temptation to add “and so should we.” Instead, stick with the stunning fact that God loves everyone.

SOURCE: Worshiping with Children: A blog by Carolyn C. Brown, a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).

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Word-Sunday

Good and Selfish People

Children’s Readings

Opening Question: What is the difference between a selfish person and a good person?

In the story for the first reading, Mark and Daniel were neighbors, but were different in every way. Mark was irresponsible, while Daniel was responsible. Mark wanted everything now, while Daniel would postpone reward for a higher goal.

READ THE STORY

In the same way, Jeremiah spoke of the selfish and the good.

Bridge Question: How can the good person influence the self people?

In the story for the gospel,

the tale of Mark and Daniel continues when Mark light a fire in his room while playing with matches. Mark lost much of his video games and sports memorabilia. Daniel decided to share some of his video games with Mark, much to Mark’s surprise.

READ THE STORY