Lessons in English
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Focus:
Jesus uses parables to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus teaches us that it is God’s job to separate the good from the evil.
Materials Needed:
- Bible
- Candle
Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration. Here is a video on how to do so: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/04/pop-up-catechesis-creating-a-prayer-space-in-your-home/
Light a candle. Call your family to prayer.
Opening Activity:
Spend some time in your yard before you begin. Have the family members look for plants that they think are beautiful or that they like. Use your phone to take pictures of the plants that each person likes, or, if you are okay with it, have each person pick the plant that he or she likes. Make sure to choose one or two plants yourself that are considered weeds, but may be beautiful.
Time for show and tell. Have each member of the family show their plant and tell why they chose it. Point out the plants that are actually weeds.
Discuss:
- What is a weed?
- Why is it a bad thing?
- How do we get rid of them? (Pull them, hoe them, use weed killer)
- What happens to the good plants when we get rid of the weeds? (They will grow better; the weeds won’t take the sun, moisture, soil that the plants need)
- Think about this: do we ever lose good plants when we get rid of the weeds? Sometimes we may accidentally pull up a plant that we think is a weed. Or can weed killers always tell the difference between a weed and a plant?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses a parable, or story, to teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven. He will tell his followers something different than we are used to. Listen carefully.
Music:
Choose one of the music suggestions below. Sing together as a family.
Make the Sign of the Cross.
Sunday Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43 (Longer Form) or Matthew 13:24-30 (Shorter Form)
Together read the Sunday Gospel. http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071920.cfm
Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible. Be creative. Read it in parts. Act out the story.
Discussion:
- What did Jesus compare the Kingdom of Heaven to?
- When the slaves ask the Master what they should do about the weeds, what does he tell them? (Let them grow)
- Why do you think he would tell them not to pick the weeds? (Because the good plants might be damaged)
- When can the slaves get rid of the weeds? (At harvest time)
- What happens to the weeds at harvest time? (They will be burned)
- Who are we in the story? (The good seed)
- Do we need to worry about the weeds? Who will take care of the weeds? (God)
- Jesus wants us to focus on producing good works for the world. If we take care of our own faith life and make good choices, we will not be like the weeds at harvest time. God will take us to be with him.
- What are some ways that we can be good seed in the world? How do we show love to everyone?
Apostles Creed:
Together pray:
I believe in God the Father almighty Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
Music:
Choose another song to sing together.
Universal Prayers:
As a family, offer prayers for our Church, our world, your local communities, and your families.
The Lord’s Prayer
Together pray the words that our Savior gave us:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
Music:
Choose another song to sing together.
Family Activity Suggestions:
- Pull weeds for a friend or neighbor as an act of service. Even though Jesus tells us in the Gospel not to pull weeds, we understand he is talking about people. We need to take care of our world and pulling weeds will make our gardens and yards healthy. Just make sure that you are removing only the weeds.
- Write letters to missionaries overseas who are doing the work of spreading the Gospel. Contact the Mission Office for names. http://mission.stcdio.org/ Thank them for the good work they do in the world.
Music Suggestions:
Gathering: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci81st9WiRc
Psalm Response: Psalm 86: Lord, You Are Good and Forgiving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKFIx3qyYXc
Presentation of the Gifts: Worthy is the Lamb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSOG64-sTpg
Communion: Spirit and Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoKR216fGuo
Hymn of Praise: Act Justly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2bRY45vayg
Other Web Resources:
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) (official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International):
https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy
Catholic Mom: https://www.catholicmom.com/sunday-mass-activities
USCCB: https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ot-16.pdf
Strong Catholic Faith: http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/breaking-open-the-word—junejuly—cycle-a.html
Pop-Up Catechesis: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/tag/pop-up-catechesis/
