Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, Primary

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Primary Session

Matthew 22:1-14



Opening Prayer



Let us pray.

O God, you have done great things for us.

We are happy to give you thanks and praise.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen.





Opening Life Reflection

The theme for today is to keep holy the Lord’s day. To begin, invite the children to form a circle to play an alphabet game. Have them imagine that they have been invited to a banquet. Explain that a banquet is a special celebration that includes a great meal. Invite each child to announce one item that they will eat at the banquet starting with the first letter of the alphabet. For example the first child can start by saying, “I was invited to a banquet and I will eat apples.” Have the children repeat the previous items before announcing what they are going to eat. Discuss:

• How is the Mass like a banquet?
• Who invites you to go to Mass?
• Why do we call Sunday, the Lord’s day?

Allow time for discussion. Each Sunday we gather for Mass to give God thanks and praise. At Mass we celebrate a special meal called Eucharist.

Listening to the Word of God

In the gospel today, listen to a story about a king who invites many people to a wedding banquet.

Read Matthew 22:1-14.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters

• What does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven to?
• How does the king react when the first guests do not come to his special banquet?
• Why does the king tell his servants to go out and invite everyone to the banquet?

Scripture Background

Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel the Catechist Background section.

In the gospel today Jesus tells the story of a wedding banquet to teach about the kingdom of God. In today’s story a king sends his servants to invite guests to a special banquet. Some refuse to come, some are too busy and some even kill the servants. The king gets angry at the refusal of the invited guests. He wants people to attend his banquet so he tells his servants to go out and invite everyone they can find.

Jesus tells the story of the king and his servants to show how the prophets first preached to the people of Israel, but some of them refused God’s invitation. Then the prophets directed their preaching to more people, including the Gentiles. In today’s gospel we hear that all are welcome at God’s banquet table. Being a guest at God’s table calls us to live as followers of Jesus.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

• Who is invited to God’s banquet?

• How do we act as guests at God’s table?

• Why do we celebrate the special meal of Eucharist at Mass?



[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Keep Holy the Lord’s Day
We call Sunday the Lord’s day because on Sunday Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The Church celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus every Sunday at Mass. We are called to come together at Mass each week to listen to the word of God and take part in the Eucharist. We gather to give thanks and praise to God.

The third commandment teaches us to observe and keep holy the Sabbath. This commandment refers to the Jewish Sabbath. Six days were set aside for work, but the seventh day was for rest, just as God rested after having created the world. But for us Christians, Sunday is associated with Jesus Christ because of his resurrection on the first day of the week.

Each Sunday we remember that Jesus died and rose from the dead. We do what Jesus taught us at the Last Supper. We celebrate Eucharist. On Sunday we praise God and rejoice in Jesus who fills our lives with love.

• What does the third commandment teach us?
• Why is it important to keep the Lord’s day holy?
• What do we remember and do at Mass?

Sacrament Connection
When we celebrate Mass we believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Sharing in the Eucharist helps us to live as one family. We are joined together with Jesus and one another.

The Gospel in Life
When you are at Mass this week, give thanks for all God has done for you?

Posted in: Sessions A