Primary Session
Luke 10:25-37
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Dear God,
help us to love you with all our heart
and to love and care for one another.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
The theme for today is love of neighbor. To begin provide paper and crayons for the children. Invite them to draw a picture of how they can help someone. Give examples such as: feeding someone hungry, helping someone hurt, or praying for someone in need. Invite the children to share their pictures with the group. Discuss:
- How can our actions show our love for God?
- How can our actions show our love for others?
- Why does God want us to help one another?
Allow time for discussion. God wants us to love and care for others. When we help one another we show our love for God.
Listening to the Word of God
In the Gospel today Jesus teaches us how to be a good neighbor. Listen to the story of the Good Samaritan.
Read Luke 10:25-37.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
- Who is the neighbor in the Good Samaritan story?
- Why does Jesus tell the story of the Good Samaritan?
- What does Jesus teach his followers about how they should treat others?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel.
In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches that the most important commandment is to love God and love your neighbor. To help us understand how to follow this great commandment Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. This story teaches us how to be a good neighbor and how to care for others. God wants us to help all people. The story of the Good Samaritan shows that it is not always easy to stop and help someone. When we take the time to care for others we show our love for God and neighbor.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
- How can you be a good neighbor?
- Why is it hard sometimes to help others?
- Who has been a good neighbor to you?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Love of Neighbor
Jesus summed up all the commandments into one great commandment, to love God and neighbor. Following this one commandment helps us keep all Ten Commandments.
Catholic teaching gives us the works of mercy to show us how to love our neighbor. The spiritual works of mercy are: helping the sinner, teaching the ignorant, advising the doubtful, comforting people who suffer, being patient with others, forgiving people who hurt you and praying for people who are alive and those who have died. The corporal (or bodily) works of mercy are: feeding people who are hungry, giving drink to those who are thirsty, clothing people who need cloths, visiting prisoners, sheltering the homeless, visiting people who are sick and burying people who have died. By practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy we show love for our neighbor.
- How can you help someone who is sick?
- How can you help someone who is hungry?
- How can you help someone who needs cloths?
The Gospel in Life
Use your picture from the opening activity to help you choose one thing that you can do this week to help someone.
Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 13
Kindergarten, chapter 20
Grade 1, chapter 6
Grade 2, chapter 19
Grade 3, chapter 18
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