Primary Session
John 17:20-26
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
God our Father and Creator,
out of our many parts you weave a whole.
Help us to remember that we are all members of your family.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
The main focus for today is unity. For this session use a woven cloth or tapestry to help the children understand the concept of unity. Place the cloth in the center of the room and invite the children to look at it very closely. Explain to the children that many different colors and strands are woven together to make one cloth. God is like a great weaver. All people are woven together to make one family in God. Discuss:
• How is God’s family like a beautiful tapestry?
• Who are the members of God’s family?
Allow time for discussion. God makes each of us different. Our differences make the world a more beautiful place. God brings us all together to be part of one family.
Listening to the Word of God
In the gospel reading listen to Jesus pray for us to be part of one family.
Read John 17:20-26.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
• Who does Jesus pray for?
• What does Jesus pray for?
• How does Jesus want us all to live?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel.
In today’s gospel Jesus prays for unity. Jesus prays for all people to live together as one family. The unity that Jesus prays for is like a beautiful tapestry woven by God. We are the separate strands woven in and out, over and under to become part of one another and part of God.
Jesus prays that we may be one in God as Jesus and God are one, so that the world may believe in the love that God has for us all. Jesus wants the world to know that God loves all of humanity just as God loves Jesus.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
• How do you live as a member of God’s family?
• How can you tell others about God’s love?
• How can you thank Jesus for his prayer for unity?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Christian Unity
Christians of many churches have worked for unity among believers. Ecumenism is the movement to achieve unity among all the Christian churches. The Catholic Church teaches that unity is a gift given to the Church by Christ (CCC820). The source of unity is the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, together as one.
The gift of unity does not mean the absence of differences. Out of our differences we come together as one family, the family of God.
• How does the Church help us to live as God’s family?
• How do our differences help to make the world a beautiful place?
• How can we be thankful for our differences?
The Gospel in Life
This week try to learn something special about someone who is different from you.