17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Encounter With God
John 6.1-15 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection The Gospel reading last week ended with Jesus beginning to teach a great crowd of...
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The Better Part Podcast
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Kingdom of God
thebetterpart
Jul 265 min read
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Counting The Signs
John 6.1-15 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel reading last week, Jesus has compassion on the crowd of people. He...
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thebetterpart
Jul 124 min read
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Sandals and Staff
Mark 6.7-13 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection Last Sunday, we heard Jesus get rejected by the people of Nazareth. We heard him...
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thebetterpart
Jul 54 min read
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Take Delight in God
Mark 6.1-6 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection For several Sundays, we listened while Jesus and his friends travelled about the land...
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thebetterpart
May 173 min read
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...
49 views0 comments
thebetterpart
May 103 min read
Ascension (Ages 6-9): Signs of the Kingdom
Mark 16.15-20 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday is the last Sunday of the Easter season. We know that for forty days...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Apr 263 min read
5th Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Meno in Me
John 15.1-8 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, we hear Jesus tell part of the parable of the True Vine....
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thebetterpart
Nov 24, 20233 min read
Feast of Christ the King (Ages 9-12): Sheep and Goats
Matthew 25.31-46 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus tells a parable about the Kingdom of God that...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Oct 13, 20232 min read
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Invited to the Celebration!
Matthew 22.1-14 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection (Adults, once again, this is a difficult Gospel to share with little ones. There...
34 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Oct 13, 20233 min read
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Who Would Not Come?
Matthew 22.1-14 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection (Adults, here we are again with a difficult parable! For the 6-9 year old, who...
34 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Oct 13, 20235 min read
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Kingdom Clothing
Matthew 22.1-14 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection (Another warning this week! The parable in the Gospel is another difficult one....
54 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Sep 22, 20232 min read
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Who Is This Landowner?
Matthew 20.1-16 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus tells his disciples another parable about...
23 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Sep 22, 20233 min read
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Everyone Is Needed
Matthew 20.1-16 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus tells his disciples a new parable. We...
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thebetterpart
Sep 22, 20235 min read
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): An Abundance of Joy
Matthew 20.1-16 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus tells his disciples a parable to help them...
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thebetterpart
Aug 25, 20233 min read
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Given to Peter, Given to Us
Matthew 16.13-20 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection The Gospel for this Sunday occurs after the disciples travel with Jesus for...
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thebetterpart
Jul 29, 20232 min read
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Together With The Pearl
Matthew 13.44-52 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus again tells three parables, just like last...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jul 29, 20233 min read
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Trespassers In The Kingdom
Matthew 13.44-52 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus still tells parables! He knows that people...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jul 29, 20234 min read
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Kingdom Living
Matthew 13.44-52 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus again gives us three parables. Three...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jul 21, 20233 min read
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): What Does Jesus Want Us to Know?
Matthew 13.31-32 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection (Adults, the Gospel this week is quite long and considers three of Jesus'...
32 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jul 21, 20234 min read
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Weeds To Strengthen The Wheat?
Matthew 13.24-43 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection (Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jun 17, 20233 min read
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Gifts for Kingdom Work
Matthew 9.36 - 10.8 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection During Jesus' time on earth, he speaks often about the Kingdom of God. He shows...
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thebetterpart
May 27, 20233 min read
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...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Apr 1, 20234 min read
Passion Sunday (Ages 6-9): The Promise of Until
Matthew 26:17-35 (full reading: Matthew 26.14 - 27.66) (Adults, begin by reading aloud the portion of the Gospel provided here, unless...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Feb 18, 20232 min read
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Giving To Those Who Need
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle and reading the Word of God to your child.) Matthew 5.38-48 In the Gospel this Sunday,...
54 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Feb 18, 20233 min read
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...
46 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jan 27, 20232 min read
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 27, 20234 min read
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): People of the Kingdom
(Adults, you could begin by lighting a candle and reading the Word of God to your child. Alternatively, you could simply read the...
43 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jan 27, 20235 min read
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...
105 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jan 20, 20233 min read
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...
23 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Dec 9, 20222 min read
3rd Sunday of Advent (Ages 3-6): The Least in the Kingdom
(Adults, this reflection focuses on the last line of the Gospel.) Matthew 11.2-11 This Sunday we light the third candle of the Advent...
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thebetterpart
Dec 9, 20223 min read
3rd Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): Rejoice!
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel to your child.) Matthew 11.2-11 This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday. We light the third...
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thebetterpart
Dec 9, 20224 min read
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.)...
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thebetterpart
Dec 2, 20222 min read
2nd Sunday of Advent (Ages 3-6): The Hidden Kingdom
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday talks about repentance in the sense of turning from sin which our 3-6-year olds are not needing yet....
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thebetterpart
Dec 2, 20223 min read
2nd Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): Making His Paths Straight
(Adults, you could begin by reading the scripture to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection,...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Nov 11, 20223 min read
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): God With Us
(Adults, you could begin by reading the scripture to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection,...
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thebetterpart
Nov 4, 20223 min read
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Death Will Be No More
(Adults, you could begin by reading the scripture passage to your child. Alternatively, read through the reflection, pausing for your...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Oct 1, 20223 min read
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, 20224 min read
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...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Sep 3, 20223 min read
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The Building Group
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel to your child.) Luke 14:25-33 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus looks out at the large...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Sep 3, 20224 min read
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...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Aug 20, 20224 min read
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...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Aug 13, 20223 min read
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,...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Aug 6, 20222 min read
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Listening for the Treasure
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday is quite long and involves concepts young children are not ready for yet! Here we look instead at the...
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thebetterpart
Aug 6, 20222 min read
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Treasure of the Kingdom
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday is quite long and yet the first verses of the reading somehow get to the essential. We'll just focus...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Aug 6, 20223 min read
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...
17 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jul 21, 20222 min read
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): How To Pray
(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
Jun 29, 20222 min read
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Spreading the Peace
(Adults, the Gospel is long and complicated and speaks of wolves and demons, snakes and scorpions. You might opt not to read the entire...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jun 29, 20223 min read
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Peace and Joy
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
Jun 29, 20224 min read
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, 20223 min read
13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Taken Up
(Adults, for the 6-9 year old, I consider simply the first five verses of the Gospel reading. You could begin by reading these verses...
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