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Children's Liturgy Series: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

Author: Joyce Bott

Introduction

Jesus often told simple stories called parables to help people to understand something important. Today we hear about the parable of the sower who let the wheat grow along with the weeds.

Opening Prayer: Act of Love

O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and I ask pardon of those whom I have injured. Amen.

Gospel (Matthew 13:24-43)

Jesus told the crowds this parable: "One day a farmer sowed his field with wheat, but that night as he slept, his enemy crept into the field and scattered weed seeds amongst the wheat. Days passed and as the wheat sprouted and grew, so did the weeds, and the farmer realized what his enemy had done. One of the farm workers asked him, 'Master do you want us to pull up the weeds?' But the framer asnwered, 'No, Let them grow together until harvest time, because if you pull up the weeds now, you might pull up the wheat, too! When the harvest comes, the harvesters can separate the wheat from the weeds. Then I can store the wheat in my barn and burn the weeds'".

When the disciples asked Jesus to explain the story he said:"I am the man who sowed the wheat, and the devil is my enemy who scattered the weeds. The wheat seeds are the people who hear my word and follow me, and the weeds are the wicked people who will not listen to me. The end of he world will be like harvest time, when good and bad people will be separated by angels sent by God.  The good people will share God's glory and happiness in heaven, but the wicked people will be punished and will never see God."

Source: THE COMPLETE CHILDREN'S LITURGY BOOK (THOMPSON, 1996)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-lvnzy21Hk (credit to Catholic Kids Media)

Reflection

Ask: In this parable the sower makes a surprising decision. He allows the wheat and the weeds to grow together. Why does he do this? (He says that pulling the weeds before the harvest will damage the wheat as well.) 

Ask: What alternative does he offer to pulling up the weeds? (The sower says to wait until harvest time, when the wheat and the weeds can be pulled up together and separated without harming the wheat.) What does this parable tell us about God’s judgment? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

Ask: If this is the way that God judges, what might be the lesson for us about judging things by their appearances? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

Pray together, thanking God for the wisdom to withhold judgment.

Activity 1: Colouring

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Source: mrshlovesjesus.wordpress.com

Activity 2: Kids Bulletin

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