Ascension Sunday (Ages 3-6): Disciples
Matthew 28.16-20 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We know that after Jesus dies and rises to new life, never to die again, he spends...
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The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
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Baptism
thebetterpart
- May 13
- 3 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): The Advocate
John 14.15-21 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection Last Sunday we listened to Jesus remind the disciples that the Good Shepherd goes ahead...
17 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 8
- 3 min
Easter Sunday (Ages 6-9): Truth and Understanding
John 20:1-18 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection (Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a very...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 25
- 3 min
5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): The Voice That Calls To Life
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...
41 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 17
- 3 min
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Gift First
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...
42 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 11
- 3 min
3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Living Water
John 4.5-15 (full reading: John 4.5-42) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We have had two Sundays of Lent; now we come to the third...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 11
- 3 min
3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Springs of Water, Gushing Up
John 4.5-15 (full reading: John 4.5-42) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection On the third Sunday of Lent, we hear a conversation Jesus has...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 3
- 2 min
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Peek At The Risen Life
Matthew 17.1-9 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel this Sunday, we hear Jesus taking three of his best friends away by...
50 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 2
- 2 min
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): The Light of the World
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle and reading the Word of God to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first...
43 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 13
- 3 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Knowing That Can Only Come From God
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle and reading the Word of God to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first...
34 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 13
- 3 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Making Our Home In Him
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle and reading the Word of God to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first...
21 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 4, 2022
- 2 min
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Children of the Resurrection
(Adults, you could begin by reading the scripture passage to your child but it is a little confusing. Alternatively, read through the...
41 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 13, 2022
- 2 min
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Jesus Cannot Wait
(Adults, this reflection considers simply the first verse of the Gospel reading, but hopefully somehow captures Jesus' meaning.) Luke...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 13, 2022
- 3 min
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): New Life
(Adults, this reflection considers simply the first two verses of the Gospel reading, but hopefully somehow captures Jesus' meaning.)...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 27, 2022
- 3 min
Ascension of the Lord (Ages 3-6): Blessings
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 27, 2022
- 4 min
Ascension of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Everything Must Be Fulfilled
Luke 24.44-53 We are reaching the end of the forty-nine days of the Easter season and soon will be celebrating the coming of the Holy...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 13, 2022
- 2 min
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): Love Never Ends
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
34 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 12, 2022
- 3 min
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...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 10, 2022
- 4 min
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Blessed Are You Prophets
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 6:17, 20-26 The...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 28, 2022
- 4 min
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Prophets Along the Way
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 4.21-30 Last week...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 8, 2022
- 4 min
Baptism of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Soaking Up the Love
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 3.15-16, 21-22 At...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 10, 2021
- 3 min
3rd Sunday of Advent (Ages 3-6): Our Joy
(Adults, in the Gospel for this Sunday the people ask John what they must do to prepare. For the youngest children, it is not important...
49 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 15, 2021
- 3 min
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Welcoming Children
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
17 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 8, 2021
- 2 min
24th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): The Anointed One
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 8, 2021
- 5 min
24th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Being
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 8:27-35 Jesus...
33 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 1, 2021
- 3 min
23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Ephphatha
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
35 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 1, 2021
- 5 min
23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Work of Prophets
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 7.31-37 Jesus and...
38 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 28, 2021
- 2 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 3-6): How can we remember?
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 29, 2021
- 2 min
5th Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): Jesus' Family
John 15.1-8 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus sounds like he is playing a game with us. I am the vine, you are the branches. A vine is...
40 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 1, 2021
- 4 min
Easter Sunday (Ages 9-12): From The Empty Tomb
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...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 25, 2021
- 4 min
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 9-12): Beforehand, the Good News
(Begin by reading the portion of the Gospel provided. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be...
58 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 10, 2021
- 3 min
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Filling Us With Eternal Life
(If your parish is using the readings from year A, please click here for reflection.) John 3.14-21 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 25, 2021
- 3 min
2nd Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Dazzling Light
Mark 9.2-10 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus and three of his closest friends go for a walk together. Jesus took with him Peter and...
43 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 14, 2021
- 5 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Who chooses disciples?
(Begin by reading the Gospel or have someone read it to you. This way the Word will speak to you first before we think about it...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 7, 2021
- 3 min
Baptism of the Lord (Ages 3-6): Loved by God
Mark 1.7-11 We are still celebrating the feast of Christmas! This is the last of the 3 Sundays celebrating the light coming into the...
111 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 7, 2021
- 3 min
Baptism of the Lord (Ages 6-9): Sitting Down With People
Mark 1.7-11 We are coming to the end of the Christmas season, but we are still celebrating! Most people think Christmas ends on December...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 7, 2021
- 3 min
Baptism of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Desire for God
Mark 1.7-11 At the close of the Christmas season, we leave the secret years of Jesus' childhood behind and join the grown-up Jesus in the...
36 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 3, 2020
- 2 min
2nd Sunday of Advent (Ages 3-6): Good News!
Mark 1.1-8 We are in the season of Advent, the time when we prepare for the feast of Christmas, the feast of the Light coming into the...
41 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 3, 2020
- 4 min
2nd Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): Straight to Us
(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the...
49 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 12, 2020
- 6 min
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Into the Heart of God
(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.) Matthew 24.36;...
61 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2020
- 3 min
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Chosen for Light
(Adults, I think of the 3-6 year old as in a time of BEING. Being in love with God, being a child of God. This reflection will focus on...
54 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2020
- 3 min
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Light for the Banquet
(Adults, I think of the 6-9 year old as in a time of KNOWING--knowing who calls them to build the Kingdom, knowing the rules of the...
55 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2020
- 4 min
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Taking the Time
(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.) Matthew 25.1-13...
94 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 14, 2020
- 5 min
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Offering Ourselves
(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.) Matthew 22.15-21...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 7, 2020
- 5 min
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Kingdom Clothing
(Another warning this week! The parable in the Gospel is another difficult one. Read it through first, or ask someone to read it to you....
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 22, 2020
- 2 min
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Naming Jesus
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
17 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 20, 2020
- 2 min
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): To Reveal the Hidden
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 6-9 year olds (Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a very...