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...
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The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
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Parousia
thebetterpart
- May 20
- 3 min
Ascension Sunday (Ages 6-9): Not Another Death
Matthew 28.16-20 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection On Ascension Sunday, or the Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate the moment in...
16 views0 comments
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
- 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 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
- Nov 25, 2022
- 2 min
1st Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): One...In the Likeness of God
(Adults, you could begin by reading the scripture passage.) Matthew 24.37-44 This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time...
28 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 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 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
- 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,...
26 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
- 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
- Nov 24, 2021
- 3 min
1st Sunday of Advent (Ages 6-9): Lift Us Up
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 24, 2021
- 3 min
1st Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): The Pervasion 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.) Luke 21.25-28, 34-36...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 11, 2021
- 4 min
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Lesson of the Fig Tree
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 13.24-32 The...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 21, 2021
- 4 min
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Living the Miracle
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 10.46-52 Often,...
51 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 6, 2021
- 4 min
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Bread Like No Other
(Adults, the full Gospel this week is complicated. This reflection for the 6-9 year olds focuses on the last four verses beginning with...
14 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
- Apr 22, 2021
- 3 min
Good Shepherd Sunday (Ages 6-9): The Gift that Gathers
John 10.11-18 (Adults, you could begin by reading the whole scripture passage to the child.) For many of us, the parable of the Good...
40 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 22, 2021
- 3 min
Good Shepherd Sunday (Ages 9-12): Laying Down
John 10.11-18 (Begin by reading the Gospel. Alternatively, you could have someone read it to you. The Good News is meant to be heard 😊)...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 14, 2021
- 4 min
3rd Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Heaven and Earth Meet
Luke 24.35-48 We know that Easter is not just one day, but a whole season--seven Sundays long! We have a chance to listen to different...
35 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 8, 2021
- 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 is Risen from the dead, filled with the eternal...
11 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 25, 2020
- 3 min
1st Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): The Time of the Kingdom
(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.) Mark 13.33-37...
39 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 7, 2020
- 3 min
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Who Wouldn't Come?
(Adults, here we are again with a difficult parable! For the 6-9 year old, who is beginning an exploration of the moral life, this...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 1, 2020
- 4 min
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Fullness of the Kingdom
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 14.13-21 Each...
35 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 18, 2020
- 4 min
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Weeds to Strengthen the Wheat?
(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a very fluent reader. It is a long Gospel, and a little...
32 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 18, 2020
- 4 min
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Three Measures
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 13.24-43 For...
42 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 30, 2020
- 3 min
Pentecost (Ages 6-9): Tongues, as of Fire
Pentecost, Year A 6-9 year olds (Adults, the Gospel for Pentecost is John 20.19-23, the same as the 2nd Sunday of Easter. This reflection...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 23, 2020
- 3 min
Ascension Sunday (Ages 6-9): Not Another Death
Ascension Sunday, Year A 6-9 year olds (In Canada, on the 7th Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus. Adults,...
27 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- May 16, 2020
- 4 min
6th Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): On That Day
6th Sunday of Easter, Year A 9-12 year olds (Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word...
30 views1 comment
thebetterpart
- Apr 4, 2020
- 4 min
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 6-9): The Promise of Until
Passion Sunday, Year A 6-9 year olds (Adults, begin by reading aloud the portion of the Gospel provided here, unless the child is a very...
37 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 4, 2020
- 5 min
Passion (Palm) Sunday (Ages 9-12): The Prayer of Jesus
Passion Sunday, Year A 9-12 year olds (Begin by reading the portion of the Gospel provided. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it...
30 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 20, 2020
- 4 min
4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Signs and Siloam
4th Sunday of Lent, Year A 9-12 year olds John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41) In the Gospel reading for this Sunday,...
56 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Dec 13, 2019
- 2 min
What do you hear and see?
Matthew 11.2-11 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A 9-12 year olds When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his...
8 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 30, 2019
- 3 min
Welcome, thief!
Matthew 24.37-44 1st Sunday of Advent, Year A 9-12 year olds Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of preparing for the...
9 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 30, 2019
- 2 min
One...in the likeness of God
Matthew 24.37-44 1st Sunday of Advent, Year A 6-9 year olds Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of preparing for the...
16 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 15, 2019
- 2 min
Building the Kingdom = Public Speaking??
Luke 21.5-19 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 9-12 year olds When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with...
8 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 10, 2019
- 2 min
Signs of the Kingdom
Luke 17.11-19 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C In today's gospel, Jesus performs a miracle. We need to know that miracles are not...
35 views0 comments
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