21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Working Through Our Faith
Matthew 16.13-20 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection At the beginning of the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus asks the disciples two...
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The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
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Holy Spirit
thebetterpart
- Jun 3
- 2 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 6-9): What God Did, God Does
John 3.16-18 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday is called Trinity Sunday. We say that God is Trinity—One God, three Persons....
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 27
- 3 min
Pentecost Sunday (Ages 3-6): Together
Acts 2.1-11 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday is a new feast. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. We call this...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 27
- 3 min
Pentecost Sunday (Ages 6-9): Tongues As of Fire
Acts 2.1-11 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection Last week, we heard about Jesus ascending into heaven and telling the disciples to...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 27
- 3 min
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...
6 views0 comments
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
- May 13
- 3 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): The Spirit of Love
John 14.15-21 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday's Gospel continues the discussion from last week that Jesus has with his...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 15
- 2 min
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): Be Still and Know
John 20:19-22 (full reading John 20:19-31) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection (Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 15
- 2 min
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Contagious
John 20:19-23 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection The Gospel for this Sunday actually begins on the evening of the day that Jesus rises...
21 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
- Jan 27
- 2 min
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Who Are The Poor In Spirit?
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle and reading the Word of God to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first...
46 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
- 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 16, 2022
- 2 min
4th Sunday of Advent (Ages 3-6): From the Holy Spirit
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle before reading the reflection to your child. The quotations you could read directly from...
26 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
- 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
- Sep 16, 2022
- 3 min
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Faithful and True
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday contains a parable that is difficult for both adults and children to understand. This reflection...
15 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
- Jun 11, 2022
- 2 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 6-9): All-in-All
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
13 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...
6 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 27, 2022
- 3 min
Ascension of the Lord (Ages 6-9): Promise
Luke 24.44-53 This Sunday we celebrate the last Sunday of the Easter season. For forty days following his Resurrection, Jesus appears to...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 21, 2022
- 3 min
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): Remind Us
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 21, 2022
- 2 min
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Before and After
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
12 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 21, 2022
- 3 min
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Fruit of the Spirit
(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.) John 14.23-29...
19 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 30, 2022
- 6 min
3rd Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Signs by the Sea
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) John 21.1-19 On this...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 22, 2022
- 2 min
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...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 22, 2022
- 3 min
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...
12 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 22, 2022
- 4 min
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...
12 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 16, 2022
- 3 min
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...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 25, 2022
- 4 min
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Specks and Logs
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 25, 2022
- 4 min
8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Treasure and Fruit
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 6:39-45 For the...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 8, 2022
- 4 min
Baptism of the Lord (Ages 6-9): The Power of Prayer
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
31 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 17, 2021
- 3 min
4th Sunday of Advent (Ages 3-6): Knowing and Joy
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first two paragraphs of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 17, 2021
- 3 min
4th Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): She Says Yes
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 17, 2021
- 4 min
4th Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): At the Sound of Her Voice
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 1.39-45 This...
19 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
- 4 min
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Ask a Good Question
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 9.30-37 In the...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 11, 2021
- 3 min
Assumption of Mary (Ages 3-6): Knowing and Joy
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. The Magnificat is long for little people, so you could stop reading...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 28, 2021
- 4 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 9-12): The Great Gathering-in
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 28.16-20 We...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 21, 2021
- 3 min
Pentecost (Ages 3-6): Together
(Adults, almost always, I focus exclusively on the Gospel reading; however, for the feast of Pentecost, I think it is important for the...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 21, 2021
- 4 min
Pentecost (Ages 6-9): Tongues, as of Fire
(Adults, almost always, I focus exclusively on the Gospel reading; however, for the feast of Pentecost, I think it is important for the...
36 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 21, 2021
- 3 min
Pentecost (Ages 9-12): Each of Us
(The Gospel for Pentecost is John 15.26-27; 16.12-15. Usually, I focus exclusively on the Gospel reading; however, for the feast of...
42 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 13, 2021
- 3 min
Ascension of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Signs of the Spirit
Mark 16.15-20 We are reaching the end of the forty-nine days of the Easter season and soon will be celebrating the coming of the Holy...
23 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 6, 2021
- 2 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): Living in Joy
John 15.9-17 We have been thinking about what Jesus says about himself. Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the...
35 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 6, 2021
- 2 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): That Same Love
John 15.9-17 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus continues the parable of the True Vine. Last week, we thought about Jesus' invitation...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 6, 2021
- 3 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Fruit of the Kingdom
John 15.9-17 The Gospel for this Sunday picks up where it ended last Sunday. Jesus continues the parable of the True Vine. We hear...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 8, 2021
- 2 min
2nd Sunday of Easter (Ages 3-6): From Fear to Joy
John 20.19-31 Last week, on Easter Sunday, we heard about Jesus full of his Risen life, calling Mary Magdalene by name, so that she would...
31 views0 comments
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