Pentecost Sunday (Ages 9-12): Each of Us
Acts 2.1-11 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday is Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the...
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The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
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Reflections for 9-12 year olds
thebetterpart
- May 20
- 3 min
Ascension Sunday (Ages 9-12): I-With You-Am
Matthew 28.16-20 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection On Ascension Sunday, or the Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate the moment in...
9 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 13
- 4 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): On That Day
John 14.15-21 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Gospel for this Sunday picks up where we left off last Sunday in the long...
12 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 6
- 3 min
5th Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Sacrament
John 14:1-12 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection Unlike the other Gospels, St. John's Gospel records a great long conversation Jesus has...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 29
- 3 min
Good Shepherd Sunday (Ages 9-12): The Smell of the Shepherd at the Gate
John 10:1-10 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection Many of us are very familiar with the image of the Good Shepherd. The Gospel for this...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 21
- 4 min
3rd Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Retreat
Luke 24.13-35 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection On this third Sunday of Easter, we hear an account of people meeting Jesus, raised from...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 15
- 3 min
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): A New Creation of Community
John 20:19-31 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection The Gospel reading for this second Sunday of Easter has two parts. It begins on the...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 1
- 5 min
Passion Sunday (Ages 9-12): The Prayer of Jesus
Matthew 27:24-54 (full reading: Matthew 26.14 - 27.66) (Begin by reading the portion of the Gospel provided. Sometimes it is good to have...
51 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 25
- 4 min
5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): The One Coming Into The World
John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 (full reading: John 11.1-45) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 17
- 4 min
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Signs and Siloam
John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 11
- 5 min
3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Word, Worship, Witness
John 4.5-15, 19-26, 39-42 (full reading: John 4.5-42) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection When we read the Bible, we can ask ourselves,...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 3
- 4 min
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): A Moment For Them
Matthew 17.1-9 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection The Gospel for the second Sunday of Lent always features the Transfiguration. This...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 25
- 4 min
1st Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): The Way of God
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 4.1-11 Listen...
51 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 18
- 3 min
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Be Perfect?
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 5.38-48 In the Gospel...
41 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 9
- 4 min
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Fullness of the Law
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 5.17, 20-24, 27-28,...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 2
- 3 min
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): A City Built On A Hill
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 5:13-16 In the Gospel...
45 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 27
- 5 min
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Eighth Day
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 5:1-12 The most...
98 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 20
- 3 min
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The People Who—?—In Darkness
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 4:12-23 The Gospel this...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 13
- 3 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Lamb of God
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) John 1:29-34 After weeks of...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 5
- 5 min
Epiphany of the Lord (Ages 9-12): God Leads Us
Matthew 2.1-12 This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany refers to a moment when God makes God's very self known in...
37 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 31, 2022
- 4 min
Mary, Mother of God (Ages 9-12): At The Threshold
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 24, 2022
- 4 min
Christmas (Ages 9-12): Beyond Our Control
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 9, 2022
- 4 min
3rd Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): What Did You Go Out to See?
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.)...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 2, 2022
- 4 min
2nd Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): Axes and Fire?
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.)...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 25, 2022
- 3 min
1st Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): Welcome, Thief!
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.)...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 17, 2022
- 3 min
Christ The King (Ages 9-12): Anointed Like Him
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 11, 2022
- 3 min
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): All and Each
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2022
- 3 min
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): God of Life
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 28, 2022
- 4 min
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Mercy and Joy
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 22, 2022
- 3 min
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Jesus Prayer
(You could begin by reading the scripture passage. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word of God is meant to be heard.) Luke...
37 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 14, 2022
- 3 min
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Deeper Knowing
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 18:1-8 In the Gospel for...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 6, 2022
- 3 min
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): For A Moment
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. Close your eyes and just let the words fall over you. Which word...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 1, 2022
- 3 min
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Not For Thanks
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. Close your eyes and just let the words fall over you. What do...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 21, 2022
- 4 min
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Holy Obligation
(Before reading the reflection, take a moment and read the Gospel, or better yet, have someone read it to you. The Good News is meant to...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 16, 2022
- 3 min
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Acting Shrewdly
(Before reading the reflection, take a moment and read the Gospel, or better yet, have someone read it to you. The Good news is meant to...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 10, 2022
- 5 min
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Father Forgives
(The Gospel for this Sunday includes all three lost and found parables. This reflection looks only the third.) Luke 15:11-24 (full...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 3, 2022
- 4 min
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Plans for the Kingdom
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 14:25-33 In the Gospel for...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 27, 2022
- 2 min
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): We Are Invited
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 14:1, 7-14 In the Gospel...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 20, 2022
- 4 min
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Hands Free
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 13.22-30 In the...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 13, 2022
- 3 min
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): ÷÷÷Jesus Stresses Out÷÷÷
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 12:49-53 Usually,...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 6, 2022
- 3 min
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Our Treasure
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 12.32-40 Jesus...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 30, 2022
- 3 min
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Right and Just
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 12.13-21 The...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 21, 2022
- 4 min
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Just Ask! (and keep on asking)
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. It is good to hear the Word of God.) Luke 11.1-13 In...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 15, 2022
- 3 min
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Head and Heart
(I am considering this Sunday the feast day of this website. When you read the Gospel, you will know why. The whole Gospel is included in...
38 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 9, 2022
- 4 min
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Who Would Jesus Choose?
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 10.25-37 The...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 29, 2022
- 4 min
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Living Vocation
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 10.1-12, 17-20 In...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 25, 2022
- 4 min
13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Vocation
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 9.51-62 In the...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 17, 2022
- 3 min
Body and Blood of the Christ (Ages 9-12): Whose Feast Is This?
(Begin by reading the Gospel, or better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Gospel is better heard.) Luke 9.11b-17 This Sunday, we...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 11, 2022
- 3 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 9-12): One Step at a Time
(Begin by reading the Gospel. It is a short one, but you might ask someone to read it to you. The Word is better heard.) John 16.12-15 We...