Questions of the Week for Fall 2020 through Ordinary Time
(The extra text for August 30 is part of what we had planned for the Family Faith Formation gathering that had to be canceled due to weather.)
AUG 30 • 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 124
Come, Follow Me
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
Parents / guardians: Review today’s Gospel and go over the Question of the Week with your family. Then read the Gospel reflection and ask your kids “ What Should You Do?”
GOSPEL
† A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew 16:21-25
Jesus began telling his disciples what would happen to him. He said, “I must go to Jerusalem. There the nation’s leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law of Moses will make me suffer terribly. I will be killed, but three days later I will rise to life.”
Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. He said, “Lord, surely God won’t let this happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Satan, get away from me!
You’re in my way because you think like everyone else and not like God.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me. If you want to save your life,
you will destroy it. “But if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Help us to live as your follower no matter how hard it may be. Give us the strength to do
what is right and to show the world how much you love us.
In your name we pray.
Amen
▶▶ Adults: In what concrete ways do you take up your cross and follow Jesus?
▶▶ Kids: When has it been difficult to be a follower of Jesus?
Gospel Reflection: What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Once Jesus comes into our lives we cannot act and speak and live like we don’t know Him. Knowing that He loves us so much that He let himself be hurt and killed for us makes us want to live like Him. The disciples left their homes, their families, their friends and their jobs to follow Jesus. Many people said they were crazy and didn’t like them after that. The disciples didn’t care, though, because they knew that being a follower of Jesus means living our lives the way that Jesus wants us to live. He wants us to follow the 10 Commandments, to love everyone and to make the world a better place. These are not always the easy things to do or the most popular, especially today. For example, it is hard to love and be nice to someone who is always mean to us. It is hard to tell a group of our friends that you don’t like it when they tell jokes or talk about other kids. Living as followers of Jesus is something we will do for our entire lives in many different ways. As kids you are not expected to move away from your home and your family like the disciples, but you are called to be kind and fair, to do what you can to make your part of the world better, and to listen and obey your parents, teachers and the Church. You are also asked to listen as you grow to hear what else God calls you to do as you become an adult. It may be to be a Priest or a Sister, a lay missionary, a married person ministering in a parish, a religion teacher, or a parent raising children who will follow Jesus. There are many
possibilities but they will all in some way be a reflection of your love for Jesus.
“What Should You Do?”
On the playground a girl is being teased by another group of girls, as a follower of Jesus, what should you do?
Someone cuts in front of you in the line for lunch. What do you do as a follower of Jesus?
You spent a lot of time working on a picture and someone tears it up. How do you respond as a follower of Jesus?
There is a kid that never has anyone to play with. What do you do as a follower of Jesus?
Some kids in your class do not pay attention or participate at church. They make fun of you because you do. How do you respond as a follower of Jesus?
You get angry at your little brother and yell at her. What do you do as a follower of Jesus?
SEP 6 • 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Helping Others Grow
Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.”
(Matthew 18:15)
▶▶ Ezekiel 33:7-9 - The prophet a watchman
▶▶ Romans 13:8-10 - Love fulfills the Law
▶▶Matthew 18:15-20 - Fraternal correction
▶▶ Adults:How have you been able to follow Christ more closely because others patiently loved you?
▶▶ Kids: How can you help another person do the right thing?
SEP 13 • 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Forgiveness and Mercy
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22)
▶▶ Sirach 27:30-28:7 - Call to forgiveness and mercy
▶▶ Romans 14:7-9 - To live and die for Christ
▶▶Matthew 18:21-35 - The merciless official
▶▶ Adults: When someone hurts you, how do you forgive them?
▶▶ Kids: When have you forgiven someone who treated you unfairly?
SEP 20 • 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
God’s Generosity
[The landowner] said “Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:14–15)
▶▶ Isaiah 55:6-9 - Seeking the Lord
▶▶ Philippians 1:20-24, 27 - Spreading the gospel
▶▶Matthew 20:1-16 - The laborers in the vineyard
▶▶ Adults: What lessons do you draw from today’s Gospel? How has God been generous to you in this way?
▶▶ Kids: Who is generous to you, even when you do not always deserve it?
SEP 27 • 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Challenge to Forgive
A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, “The first.” (Matthew 21:28–31)
▶▶ Ezekiel 18:25-28 - Personal responsibility
▶▶ Philippians 2:1-11 - Imitating the humility of Christ
▶▶Matthew 21:28-32 - Parable of the two sons
▶▶ Adults: When have your actions not measured up to your promises? What was the outcome?
▶▶ Kids: Why is it important to follow through on your promises to others?
OCT 4 • 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dealing with Injustice
Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:43)
▶▶ Isaiah 5:1-7 - The vineyard song
▶▶ Philippians 4:6-9 - Joy and peace in Christ
▶▶Matthew 21:33-43 - Parable of the tenants
▶▶ Adults: How have you used your talents and abilities well for the Reign of God?
▶▶ Kids: What can you do in your week to help the love of God grow in the world?
OCT 11 • 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Living Our Faith
Jesus said, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
▶▶ Isaiah 25:6-10 - A feast for all peoples
▶▶ Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 - Generosity
▶▶Matthew 22:1-14 - The wedding banquet
▶▶ Adults: How do you translate your faith into the work of the Reign of God?
▶▶ Kids: What three things can you do this week to show that you are a follower of Jesus?
OCT 18 • 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Social Responsibility
At that [Jesus] said to them “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
▶▶ Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 - Rewards to Cyrus, king of Persia
▶▶ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 - A model for believers
▶▶Matthew 22:15-21 - Paying tax to the emperor
▶▶ Adults: How much responsibility do you feel the government should take for meeting the needs of the less fortunate in our society? How willing are you to contribute?
▶▶ Kids: Who needs help in your neighborhood or community? What could you and your family do to help?
OCT 25 • 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Love of Neighbor
"All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)
▶▶ Exodus 22:20-26 - Social laws
▶▶ 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 - A model for believers
▶▶Matthew 22:34-40 - The greatest commandment
▶▶ Adults: In a practical sense, what is one thing that would change in your life if you loved your neighbor as yourself?
▶▶ Kids: Why is it hard sometimes to love your neighbor?
NOV 1 • 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sincerity of Heart
Jesus said, “Therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” (Matthew 23:3)
▶▶Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8–10 - Punishment for imperfect sacrifices
▶▶ 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13 - Pauls sincerity
▶▶Matthew 23:1-12 - Hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees
▶▶ Adults: Is there an area of your life in which you sometimes feel like a hypocrite?
▶▶ Kids: Why is it important for you to live according to how you believe?
NOV 8 • 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Actions and Consequences
"Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." (Luke 20:37–38)
▶▶Wisdom 6:12-16 - The availability of wisdom to those who seek
▶▶ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Resurrection of the dead
▶▶Matthew 25:1-13 - Parable of the ten virgins
▶▶ Adults: We meet Christ sometimes when we least expect it. How can you be ready to see him in all the ways he is present?
▶▶ Kids: What are some surprising ways in which you meet Christ in your daily life?
NOV 15 • 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Using Your Gifts
[The servant said,] “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him,“Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:20b–21)
▶▶ Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 - The ideal wife
▶▶ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 - The need for preparation
▶▶Matthew 25:14-30 - Parable of the silver pieces
▶▶ Adults: What gift have you not developed as you had hoped? What could you still do?
▶▶ Kids: What gift has God given you? What do you want to do with it?
NOV 22 • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
The Final Judgment
[The Son of Man] will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:45)
▶▶ Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 - Parable of the shepherds
▶▶ 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 - Christ, the first fruits
▶▶Matthew 25:31-46 - The last judgment
▶▶ Adults: In what ways is Jesus the ruler of your life?
▶▶ Kids: How can you show that you honor Jesus as the king of your life?
