Children's Liturgy Series: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

Jesus often told simple stories called parables to help people to understand something important. Today we hear the parable of the sower.

Jesus, help us to listen to and understand your message, so that our hearts and lives will be filled with God's love.

Jesus told the crowds this parable: "One day a farmer went out to sow some seeds in his field. As he scattered the seeds, some fell on the stony path at the edge of the field, where flocks of hungry birds flew down and gobbled them up. Some seeds fell on rocky ground, where although they sprouted, the soil was too shallow for their roots and the baking hot sun shrivelled them up. Other seeds fell where weeds were growing, and the weeds choked them until they died. Some of the seeds landed on the farmer's richest soil and grew into strong and healthy plants".

Jesus explained the meaning of the story to the people: "The seeds are the things which I teach you, the good news about God. Some people hear God's word but they do not understand; this is the seed which falls on the stony path." 

"Some people welcome my words and try hard to follow my ways at first, but then they give up. They are like the seeds which fall on rocky ground; they sprout but then shrivel and die."

"Some people hear my message, but their hearts are filled with other thoughts; the message becomes choked like the seeds choked with weeds, and they cannot produce fruit."

"The seed that falls on rich soil is like those who hear my message and understant it; they grow strong, and the harvest is great."

Say: In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a parable to show how different people hear the message about the Kingdom of God. 

Say: Note that in the parable, the message about the kingdom of heaven is the same; no differences among the seeds are noted. But the result in each case is very different, depending upon how the message is received. Jesus wants us to be like good soil in which the seed can bear abundant fruit.

Ask: What are some things that we can do so that we are like the good soil, able to hear and accept God's Word about the kingdom of heaven? (prayer, reading the Bible, being attentive to religious instruction)

Conclude in prayer together, asking God to help us to become good soil so that his Word can take root and produce abundant fruit.