thebetterpartMar 254 min4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): Who Is God Like?(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday is the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son. We can call it, though, the parable of the Forgiving...
thebetterpartMar 255 min4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): No Matter What(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpartMar 256 min4th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Our Family(Begin by reading the parable in this Sunday's Gospel. It is so good—should be heard all at once and not broken up as it is in this...
thebetterpartMar 172 min3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): The Good Gardener(Adults, this reflection considers only the parable in verses 6-9. How does your child answer the questions? It is difficult for us not...
thebetterpartMar 173 min3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Poor Fig Tree(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpartMar 173 min3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Unless and Until(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 13:1-9 The Gospel...
thebetterpartFeb 254 min8th 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...
thebetterpartJun 12, 20213 min11th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Marvellous Growth(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartJun 12, 20213 min11th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The Grace of God(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartJun 12, 20215 min11th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Blastano!(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 4.26-34 At long...
thebetterpartMar 18, 20213 min5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 3-6): A Grain of Wheat(If your parish is using the readings from year A, please click here for reflection.) John 12.20-33 (for the 3-6 yr old, simply verse 24)...
thebetterpartMar 18, 20213 min5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): Possibility of More(If your parish is using the readings from year A, please click here for reflection.) John 12.20-33 For many weeks of Lent we have been...
thebetterpartMar 18, 20215 min5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): Jesus' Vision(If your parish is using the readings from year A, please click here for reflection.) John 12.20-33 We have been in the season of Lent...
thebetterpartNov 18, 20203 minFeast of Christ the King (Ages 3-6): The Shepherd Who is King(Adults, this reflection attempts to help the child answer the question "Who are you, God? It also tries to help them answer for...
thebetterpartNov 18, 20203 minFeast of Christ the King (Ages 6-9): Helping the Least, Serving the King(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the...
thebetterpartNov 18, 20203 minFeast of Christ the King (Ages 9-12): Sheep and Goats(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 25.31-46...
thebetterpartNov 12, 20203 min33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Into the Joy(Adults, there are two versions of the Gospel for this Sunday. I have provided the shorter version here. You could begin by reading the...
thebetterpartNov 12, 20206 min33rd 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;...
thebetterpartOct 7, 20202 min28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Invited to the Celebration!(Adults, once again, this is a difficult Gospel to share with little ones. There are frightening images. But if we strip the parable...
thebetterpartOct 7, 20203 min28th 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...
thebetterpartOct 7, 20205 min28th 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....
thebetterpartSep 30, 20204 min27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Fruit for Joy(A warning this week: the parable in the Gospel is a difficult one. Read it first, or ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to...
thebetterpartSep 23, 20203 min26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Saying and Doing the Will(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartSep 16, 20203 min25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Who is this Landowner?(Adults, the Gospel reading this week is a parable that I would not choose to share with 3-6 year olds who are not concerned with labour...
thebetterpartSep 16, 20203 min25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Everyone is Needed(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartSep 16, 20205 min25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): An Abundance of Joy(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 20.1-16 In the...
thebetterpartJul 25, 20202 min17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Together with the Pearl(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartJul 25, 20203 min17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Trespassers in the Kingdom(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a very fluent reader.) Matthew 13.44-52 In the Gospel for...
thebetterpartJul 25, 20204 min17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Kingdom Living(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 13.44-52 In...
thebetterpartJul 18, 20203 min16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): What Does Jesus Want Us to Know?(Adults, the Gospel this week is quite long and considers three of Jesus' parables. This reflection focuses on the parable that is...
thebetterpartJul 18, 20204 min16th 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...
thebetterpartJul 18, 20204 min16th 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...
thebetterpartJul 11, 20203 min15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Who is this Sower?(Adults, the reflection is about the short version of this Sunday's Gospel. You might choose not to read the Gospel to the child before...
thebetterpartJul 11, 20204 min15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): We Will Listen(Adults, the reflection is about the short version of this Sunday's Gospel. There is a great visual in this Gospel, so you might invite...
thebetterpartJul 11, 20203 min15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Preparing the Soil(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, have someone read it to you. This particular Gospel has some great visuals. Close your eyes and...
thebetterpartJan 25, 20203 minThe people who...?...have seen a great lightMatthew 4.12-23 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A 9-12 year olds The Gospel this week begins with disturbing news. John the Baptist...
thebetterpartDec 7, 20192 minThe Hidden KingdomMatthew 3.1-12 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A 3-6 year olds In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,...
thebetterpartNov 30, 20193 minWelcome, 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...
thebetterpartOct 25, 20192 minThe Jesus PrayerLuke 18.9-14 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Begin by reading this reflection. We know, because Jesus tells us, that our prayer...
thebetterpartOct 25, 20193 minWho are our eyes on?Luke 18.9-14 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C In the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus tells a parable about how we should be when we pray....
thebetterpartOct 19, 20193 minDeeper KnowingLuke 18:1-8 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us a parable about prayer. We know that parables are...
thebetterpartOct 19, 20192 minTurn our Eyes Towards the One with the PowerLuke 18:1-8 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us a parable about prayer. We know that parables are...
thebetterpartSep 28, 20193 minCare for the PoorLuke 16.19-31 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C I was fortunate to study scripture with a Jewish rabbi last year. He taught us that...
thebetterpartSep 28, 20192 minWe have been namedLuke 16.19-31 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Jesus tells another parable today. This one is about two very different men. One man...
thebetterpartSep 28, 20192 minA man who lost his nameLuke 16.19-31 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (Parents, the parable in the Gospel for this Sunday does not have much to say to 3-6...
thebetterpartSep 21, 20192 minChildren of LightLuke 16:1-13 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Today's parable speaks about another person who is squandering property that...
thebetterpartSep 21, 20192 minWhat does "Integrity" Mean?Luke 16:1-13 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Jesus tells a parable today about a man who has not been working honestly. We...
thebetterpartSep 15, 20192 minOh, that elder brother! Luke 15:25-32 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C After the wonderful scene of forgiveness and reconciliation between the father and the...
thebetterpartSep 14, 20194 minThe Forgiving FatherLuke 15:11-24 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C This is a long parable, and a favourite for many people. We can listen to this parable...
thebetterpartSep 13, 20192 minThe Found CoinLuke 15:8-9 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Here we have another parable about searching and finding. In Jesus' time, when a woman...