Primary Session
Luke 13:22-30
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Loving God,
Thank you for sharing your life and love with us.
Help us to live our lives filled with your love.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
The focus for today is our call to share in God’s life and love. To begin, create a poster titled “We Share in God’s Life and Love.” Take a sheet of poster board and put the title on top of the poster. Provide each child with a sheet of construction paper, a pencil, and scissors. Use a variety of colors of paper. Invite the children to trace their hand on the construction paper and cut it out. Then have them come forward and glue their handprint on the poster paper.
- How do you share in God’s life?
- How do you share in God’s love?
- How do you share in God’s kingdom?
Allow time for discussion. We are all called to share in the kingdom of God. We are part of God’s family.
Listening to the Word of God
In the Gospel listen to Jesus tell his followers about sharing in God’s kingdom.
Read Luke 13:22-30.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
- Who is called to share in God’s kingdom?
- What is the Lord coming to do?
- Where will the people gather together?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel.
In the Gospel today Jesus tells his followers that they are called to live in happiness with God forever. Jesus is asked a question about who will be saved. Jesus tells his fellow Jews that they are no more deserving of salvation than others are. There will be a time of final judgment. And on that day, some who believe that they will be the first to be saved will be last and the last first.
The Gospel stresses that all God’s children are called to share in God’s life and love. People from east and west, from north and south will share in the kingdom of God.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
- Who shares God’s love with you?
- How can you share God’s love with others?
- What does it mean to be part of God’s family?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Final Judgment
Through the gift of God’s grace we can live as children of God. All God’s children are called to happiness with God forever.
The Church teaches that when a person dies God will examine their heart to see if the person has lived as a child of God.
Final judgment looks to that end-time when Jesus Christ will come again bringing the fullness of God’s kingdom. At this end-time, Christ will judge the works and hearts of all people, nations, and times (CCC 679).
Christians are called to live as God’s children. God is always there to help us make good and loving choices. Following Jesus and choosing to love leads to life with God forever.
- What are God’s children called to?
- How do you live as a child of God?
- Who helps you live as a child of God?
The Gospel in Life
How can you share God’s love with someone this week?
Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 21
Grade 3, chapter 22