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Hello, good people :)
After 7 years of publishing The Better Part, I am ready to stop.
As many of you probably recognize, the reflections simply repeat every three years, following the calendar of the Church. Using the search bar above, you can type in the Sunday you are looking for (eg. 20th Sunday) and the reflections that match will show up. Until Advent 2026, you are looking for "year A" reflections.
The podcast will continue. You can find it on most Podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean).
God bless you all and the children you serve.
Paula
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): Peace Be With Us
John 20.19-31 Last week, on Easter Sunday, we heard about Jesus full of his Risen life, calling Mary Magdalene by name. Now she knows...
thebetterpart
Apr 22, 20222 min read
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Peace and Forgiveness
John 20.19-31 The Gospel this week takes place on Sunday evening, the same day that Jesus rises from the dead, so full of the Risen Life...
thebetterpart
Apr 22, 20223 min read
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Encounter
John 20.19-31 The Gospel for this week takes place the evening of the Resurrection. Only Mary Magdalene has encountered Jesus Risen from...
thebetterpart
Apr 22, 20224 min read
Easter Sunday (Ages 3-6): The Good Shepherd Lives
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpart
Apr 16, 20223 min read
Easter Sunday (Ages 6-9): Called By Name
John 20:1-18 At the end of the Gospel reading last Sunday and again on Good Friday, Jesus' dead body is wrapped in linen cloths and put...
thebetterpart
Apr 16, 20223 min read
Easter Sunday (Ages 9-12): Remember the Good News!
Luke 24.1-12 At the end of the Gospel reading last Sunday, after Jesus' dead body is wrapped in linen cloths and put into a tomb, we...
thebetterpart
Apr 16, 20223 min read
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 3-6): Family Forever
Luke 22:14, 19-20 (full reading: Luke 22.14 - 23.56) (Adults, the VERY abbreviated reading is for the 3-6 year old. The full reading is...
thebetterpart
Apr 9, 20223 min read
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 6-9): Remember Me
Luke 22:14-20, Luke 23:32-43 (full reading: Luke 22.14 - 23.56) This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week when, all over the world,...
thebetterpart
Apr 9, 20224 min read
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 9-12): Daughters of Jerusalem
Luke 23:26-56 (full reading: Luke 22.14 - 23.56) This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week when, all over the world, the Church thinks...
thebetterpart
Apr 9, 20224 min read
5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Time Out With Jesus
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday hardly seems fitting for 3-6 year olds! What is the face of God they need to see? I think it is the...
thebetterpart
Mar 31, 20223 min read
5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): The Face of Mercy
(Adults, this is a difficult passage from the Gospels—for adults as well as children. In this reflection, I try to explain briefly why...
thebetterpart
Mar 31, 20224 min read
5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Misery Meets Mercy
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) John 8.1-11 We know...
thebetterpart
Mar 31, 20224 min read
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Who Is God Like?
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday is the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son. We can call it, though, the parable of the Forgiving...
thebetterpart
Mar 25, 20224 min read
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): No Matter What
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpart
Mar 25, 20225 min read
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Our Family
(Begin by reading the parable in this Sunday's Gospel. It is so good—should be heard all at once and not broken up as it is in this...
thebetterpart
Mar 25, 20226 min read
3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): The Good Gardener
(Adults, this reflection considers only the parable in verses 6-9. How does your child answer the questions? It is difficult for us not...
thebetterpart
Mar 17, 20222 min read
3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Poor Fig Tree
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpart
Mar 17, 20223 min read
3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Unless and Until
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 13:1-9 The Gospel...
thebetterpart
Mar 17, 20223 min read
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): While Jesus Prays
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpart
Mar 12, 20223 min read
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Encounter
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpart
Mar 12, 20224 min read
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Connect the Dots
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 9.28b-36 Every...
thebetterpart
Mar 12, 20224 min read
1st Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Bread and the Lord
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpart
Mar 4, 20222 min read
1st Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): God's Time
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpart
Mar 4, 20224 min read
1st Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Prayer in Preparation
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 4.1-13 On...
thebetterpart
Mar 4, 20223 min read
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