Primary Session
Luke 18:1-8
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
O God, you love us and take care of us.
Thank you for listening to our prayers.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Opening Life Reflection
The focus for today is prayers of petition and intercession. To begin, invite the children to form a large circle. Explain that each of them will have a turn to ask God for something in prayer. Go around the circle and invite each child to pray to God for something that they want for themselves or for something that they want for someone else. Have the children respond to each prayer with “Lord hear our prayer.” Discuss:
- Do you ask God for things that you want or need?
- Do you ask God for things that others need?
- Why pray to God?
Allow time for discussion. God loves and cares for us. God knows our every need. When we ask God for help, God hears to our prayers.
Listening to the Word of God
In the Gospel today Jesus tells a story about the need to pray. Listen to find out what happens.
Read Luke 18:1-8.
Allow for silence.
Scripture Discussion Starters
- What story does Jesus tell?
- What does the widow keep doing?
- What is the judge like in the story?
- Why does the judge finally give the widow what she wants?
- What does the story teach about praying to God?
Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the Gospel.
In the Gospel today Jesus helps his followers understand that God always listens to their prayers. Jesus tells a story about a widow and an unjust judge. At the time when this Gospel was written, widows were treated unfairly. The widow in today’s story does not give up hope. She keeps asking the judge for fairness. The widow wears down the unjust judge and to keep her from bothering him, the judge grants her justice.
Jesus tells this story to help his listeners so that they will understand that they should not give up hope. God always hears our prayers. We can ask God for help and trust that God listens.
- Do you ever keep asking for what you want until you get it?
- When do you ask God for help?
- Why do you ask God for help?
[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]
Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Petition and Intercession in Prayer
Prayers of petition are prayers that ask God to help us. We also pray for the needs of others. Prayers for others are called prayers of intercession. These are two basic types of prayer taught in our Catholic Tradition.
Our faith tells us that we can trust God to help us. We can ask God for forgiveness. We can ask for God’s help in all our needs.
Intercessory prayer is a special sort of petition. When we ask God to help others we pray as Jesus did.
Asking God for something in prayer is an act of faith. The Scriptures make it clear that God always listens to our prayers.
- How do you ask God for help?
- What is it called when you pray for others?
- How do you learn to pray?
The Gospel in Life
How will you ask for God’s help this week?
Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, themes 16 and 17
Kindergarten, chapter 16
Grade 1, chapter 25
Grade 2, chapter 24
Grade 3, chapter 2
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