Children's Liturgy Series: Feast of Christ the King (Cycle A)

In today's gospel, Jesus reminds us that whatever we do for our neighbors we also do for Jesus. When judgement day comes, those who were kind and served others, will be separated from those who were indifferent to others.

Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life.
Amen

Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, 
he will sit upon his glorious throne, 
and all people will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another, 
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then he will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, 
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.
Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me, you accursed,
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.
Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Ask: Think of examples of TV shows that have judges on them. (such as Judge Judy or Judge Mathis)

Point out that in many of these shows, the judges are responsible for making decisions that ensure that people get what they deserve.

Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us a story about a king who passes final judgment on people.

Ask: What does the king base his judgments on? (whether or not people fed him when he was hungry, clothed him when he was naked, and so on) How does the king respond when the people ask “When did we see you hungry? Naked?” (“[W]hatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”)

Say: This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. Jesus tells us the story of the final judgment to show us what kind of a king he is. He is not a king interested in power and glory but in serving the needs of others. Since Jesus is our king and we are his loyal subjects, we strive to imitate him and to live according to his will.

Conclude by praying the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing that we pray for the coming of the kingdom and that we pray that we may do the will of Christ the King.

Father in heaven, we give you today, all that we think, and do, and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen