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...
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The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
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Kingdom of God
thebetterpart
- Apr 1
- 4 min
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...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 18
- 2 min
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,...
50 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
- 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...
45 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jan 27
- 4 min
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...
41 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
- Dec 9, 2022
- 2 min
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...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 9, 2022
- 3 min
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...
25 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
- 2 min
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....
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 2, 2022
- 3 min
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,...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 11, 2022
- 3 min
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,...
33 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2022
- 3 min
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...
29 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 3, 2022
- 3 min
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...
11 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 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
- 2 min
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...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 6, 2022
- 2 min
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...
21 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 21, 2022
- 2 min
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...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 29, 2022
- 2 min
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...
17 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 29, 2022
- 3 min
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, 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
- 3 min
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...
11 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 17, 2022
- 3 min
Body and Blood of the Christ (Ages 3-6): Everyone Full
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
21 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 17, 2022
- 3 min
Body and Blood of the Christ (Ages 6-9): Kingdom Math
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
46 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
- May 6, 2022
- 3 min
Good Shepherd Sunday (Ages 9-12): Fall in Love
(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 10.27-30...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 10, 2021
- 3 min
3rd Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): Gaudete!
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 3.10-18 This...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 27, 2021
- 2 min
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): You Shall
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 27, 2021
- 3 min
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Simple, Perhaps
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 12.28-34 In the...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 14, 2021
- 3 min
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The Dream of God
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 14, 2021
- 4 min
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Sharing in His Mission
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 10.35-45 As Jesus...
32 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 6, 2021
- 2 min
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Treasure
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
38 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 6, 2021
- 3 min
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Empty Hands
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 6, 2021
- 4 min
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): God Alone
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 10.17-30 In the...
39 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 29, 2021
- 3 min
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Important
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
32 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 29, 2021
- 4 min
27th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Treasure
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 10.2-16 The...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 22, 2021
- 4 min
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): It Is Better
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
25 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
- Aug 18, 2021
- 4 min
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Spirit and Life
(Adults, the Bread of Life discourse concludes this week. It is complicated--for adults as well as for children :) You could begin by...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 28, 2021
- 4 min
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Life for the World
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
12 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 24, 2021
- 4 min
17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Encounter with God
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
34 views0 comments
