Primary Session
Luke 6:39-45
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Thank you, God, for giving me the freedom to make choices.
Help me to choose what is right.
Keep me always in your love.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Opening Reflection
The theme for today is making wise choices to live as children of God. Talk to the children about good choices and bad choices. On a sheet of paper, make two columns, one with the heading “good choices” and the other with the heading “bad choices.” List some examples of times when someone makes a good choice and when someone makes a bad choice. Discuss:
• What are some choices that we make every day?
• What is the difference in making a “big” choice or a “little” choice?
• What are some things that can help you in making choices?
Allow time for discussion. Our family and teachers help us to make choices. They help to guide us in understanding the difference between a mistake, an accident, and a deliberate choice to do something that we know is wrong.
Listening to the Word of God
In today’s gospel listen to Jesus describe ways to live a good life.
Read Luke 6:39-45.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
• What does Jesus say about leading a blind person?
• What does Jesus tell us to do to be able to see clearly?
• What does a good person do to produce good fruit?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel using the Catechist Background section.
The gospel reading contains two parables of Jesus from the Sermon on the Plain. Both of the parables make the same point about the importance of the disciples living a good life by following the teaching of Jesus. Otherwise, one can risk some catastrophe, like falling into a ditch. In the second parable, Jesus uses an absurd example of a beam in one person’s eye and a splinter in your eye to make a point that one should make sure they are living right before they correct others.
The gospel continues with the example of trees bearing good fruit. This is a clear image of good and healthy things producing good results.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
• What is the message of the parable of the wooden beam and the splinter in the eye?
• What does it mean to have “goodness in the heart"?
• Why is it difficult to see our own faults?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, precede to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Making wise choices is very important. We make good choices when we know right from wrong. We lean right from wrong from our family and from the good example of others. We learn from God’s rules of love. We learn from the teaching and example of Jesus, and from the teaching of the Church.
When we learn and remember what is right or wrong, we are forming our conscience. Then our conscience can help us make good choices.
These are four steps that can help you listen to your conscience and make a wise choice.
1. Think: What are the possible choices?
2. Consider: What might happen next?
3. Ask: What does your conscience tell you is the best choice to make?
4. Act: Follow your conscience and make the good choice.
• Why is it important to form our conscience?
• What are some helps in forming our conscience?
• What are some things to think about to help in making wise choices?
Sacrament Connection
An examination of conscience is a way to know if the choices we made were wise choices. This helps us to live good and holy lives. We examine our conscience to prepare to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
The Gospel in Life
This week think of the wise choices that you can make that will produce good fruit.
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