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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The Better Part Podcast
Listen to weekly reflections prior to Sunday Mass!
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Parables
thebetterpart
- Oct 22, 2022
- 2 min
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Making Ourselves Small
(Adults, this week we hear another moral parable. Our 3-6 year olds do not need to hear this yet. But as small little people, they know...
35 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 22, 2022
- 3 min
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Who Are Our Eyes On?
(Adults, after you have settled yourselves, you could begin by listening to the full scripture passage. Alternatively, you could read the...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 22, 2022
- 3 min
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Jesus Prayer
(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...
37 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 14, 2022
- 3 min
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The One With the Power
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel to your child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection, then...
38 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 14, 2022
- 3 min
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Deeper Knowing
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 18:1-8 In the Gospel for...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 21, 2022
- 2 min
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): A Man Who Lost His Name
(Adults, the parable in the Gospel for this Sunday does not have much to say to 3-6 year olds who are asking, "Who are you, God?" and,...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 21, 2022
- 2 min
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): We Have Been Named
(Adults, the parable in this Sunday's Gospel presents us with two very different people. With the 6-9 year old, we can consider which...
22 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 10, 2022
- 2 min
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): The Good Shepherd Finds
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday includes all three lost and found parables. This reflection looks at only the first. Because the...
29 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 10, 2022
- 3 min
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): For Love To Be Whole
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday includes all three lost and found parables. This reflection looks only the second. If you like,...
20 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 10, 2022
- 5 min
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Father Forgives
(The Gospel for this Sunday includes all three lost and found parables. This reflection looks only the third.) Luke 15:11-24 (full...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 27, 2022
- 3 min
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The Right Order of Things
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel to your child.) Luke 14:1, 7-14 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus and his friends are...
16 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Aug 27, 2022
- 2 min
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): We Are Invited
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Better yet, ask someone to read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 14:1, 7-14 In the Gospel...
13 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 30, 2022
- 2 min
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Abundantly
(Adults, we think of covenant relationship with God in terms of God's gift and our response. With young children, we focus on the gift so...
15 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 30, 2022
- 3 min
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Possessions or Gift?
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
16 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 30, 2022
- 3 min
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Right and Just
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 12.13-21 The...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 9, 2022
- 3 min
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): The Name of God is Mercy
(Adults, this is a moral parable and 3-6 year olds do not need this yet! They simply need time to enjoy falling in love with God. We will...
12 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 9, 2022
- 3 min
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): How to Love
(Adults, it would be good to begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. The parable is beat when heard all at once. The reflection...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 9, 2022
- 4 min
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Who Would Jesus Choose?
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 10.25-37 The...
14 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 25, 2022
- 4 min
4th 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...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 25, 2022
- 5 min
4th 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...
23 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 25, 2022
- 6 min
4th 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...
18 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 17, 2022
- 2 min
3rd 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...
34 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 17, 2022
- 3 min
3rd 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...
34 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 17, 2022
- 3 min
3rd 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...
21 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
- Jun 12, 2021
- 3 min
11th 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...
44 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 12, 2021
- 3 min
11th 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...
26 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jun 12, 2021
- 5 min
11th 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...
35 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 18, 2021
- 3 min
5th 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)...
28 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 18, 2021
- 3 min
5th 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...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Mar 18, 2021
- 5 min
5th 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...
31 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 18, 2020
- 3 min
Feast 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...
61 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 18, 2020
- 3 min
Feast 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...
43 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 18, 2020
- 3 min
Feast 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...
34 views1 comment
thebetterpart
- Nov 12, 2020
- 3 min
33rd 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...
77 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Nov 12, 2020
- 6 min
33rd 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;...
61 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Oct 7, 2020
- 2 min
28th 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...
24 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
- Oct 7, 2020
- 5 min
28th 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....
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 30, 2020
- 4 min
27th 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...
24 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 23, 2020
- 3 min
26th 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...
25 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 16, 2020
- 3 min
25th 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...
54 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 16, 2020
- 3 min
25th 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...
43 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Sep 16, 2020
- 5 min
25th 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...
43 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 25, 2020
- 2 min
17th 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...
22 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Jul 25, 2020
- 3 min
17th 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...
26 views0 comments
