thebetterpartMar 314 min5th Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): The Face of Mercy(Adults, this is a difficult passage from the Gospels—for adults as well as children. In this reflection, I try to explain briefly why...
thebetterpartMar 44 min1st Sunday of Lent (Ages 6-9): God's Time(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpartFeb 174 min7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Merciful Givers(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 6:27-38 Last...
thebetterpartFeb 103 min6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Jesus Looks Up(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpartFeb 103 min6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Level is the Kingdom(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpartFeb 104 min6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Blessed Are You Prophets(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 6:17, 20-26 The...
thebetterpartJan 282 min4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Who Does Jesus Belong To?(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
thebetterpartDec 24, 20214 minFeast of the Holy Family (Ages 9-12): Taking Ownership (Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 2.41-52 The feast...
thebetterpartDec 2, 20213 min2nd Sunday of Advent (Ages 9-12): The Work 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 3.1-6 This Sunday...
thebetterpartNov 4, 20213 min32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Math With Jesus(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
thebetterpartOct 27, 20213 min31st 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...
thebetterpartOct 14, 20213 min29th 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.)...
thebetterpartOct 14, 20214 min29th 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...
thebetterpartOct 6, 20213 min28th 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.)...
thebetterpartOct 6, 20214 min28th 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...
thebetterpartSep 29, 20214 min27th 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...
thebetterpartSep 22, 20215 min26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Power of the Name(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 9.38-43, 45,...
thebetterpartSep 15, 20213 min25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Focus(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
thebetterpartSep 15, 20214 min25th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Ask a Good Question(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 9.30-37 In the...
thebetterpartAug 27, 20213 min22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Sanctifying(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
thebetterpartAug 27, 20214 min22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Hearts That Desire Cleansing(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 7.1-8, 14-15,...
thebetterpartJul 2, 20214 min14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Take Delight in God(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartMar 4, 20215 min3rd Sunday of Lent (Ages 9-12): A Two-part CleansingJohn 2.13-25 In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Each year at the time of Jesus, the...
thebetterpartFeb 3, 20214 min5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Seeking or Hunting?Mark 1.29-39 Last week, we heard about Jesus at the synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath day. His disciples, Simon and Andrew, James and...
thebetterpartJan 7, 20213 minBaptism of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Desire for GodMark 1.7-11 At the close of the Christmas season, we leave the secret years of Jesus' childhood behind and join the grown-up Jesus in the...
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, 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;...
thebetterpartNov 4, 20203 min32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Light for the Banquet(Adults, I think of the 6-9 year old as in a time of KNOWING--knowing who calls them to build the Kingdom, knowing the rules of the...
thebetterpartNov 4, 20204 min32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Taking the Time(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 25.1-13...
thebetterpartSep 23, 20202 min26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): The Good Voice(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday considers moral behaviour. For the youngest children it is important that they know for whom they are...
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 23, 20204 min26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-11): The Author of Our Actions(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 21.28-32 Often...
thebetterpartSep 9, 20202 min24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Perfect and Even More than Perfect(Adults, the Gospel reading this week is about mercy and forgiveness, both incommensurable gifts from God. The young child, not yet at...
thebetterpartSep 9, 20205 min24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): A Colossal Shift(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 18.21-34 Last...
thebetterpartSep 5, 20204 min23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Using Our Words(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
thebetterpartSep 5, 20205 min23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Power of the Community(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Matthew 18.15-20 Jesus...
thebetterpartAug 29, 20203 min22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Peter's Choice(Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the...
thebetterpartJun 27, 20203 min13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The Right Order of Loving13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 6-9 year olds (Adults, begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child, unless the child is a very...
thebetterpartFeb 22, 20203 minBe perfect?Matthew 5.38-48 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A 9-12 year olds Jesus continues his talk to the disciples who have gathered to...
thebetterpartFeb 14, 20204 minThe Fullness of the LawMatthew 5.17, 20-24, 27-28, 33-34, 37++ full reading: Matthew 5.17-37 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A 9-12 year olds The Gospel...
thebetterpartJan 11, 20203 minPlanted firmly among humansMatthew 3.13-17 BAPTISM OF THE LORD – YEAR A 9-12 year olds At the close of the Christmas season, we leave the secret years of Jesus'...
thebetterpartDec 21, 20192 minLouder than wordsMatthew 1:18-24 4th Sunday of Advent, Year A 9-12 year olds In Advent, we usually spend a lot of time thinking about the Annunciation to...
thebetterpartDec 7, 20193 minAxes and Fire?Matthew 3.1-12 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A 9-12 year olds "Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that...
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 25, 20191 minMaking ourselves small before GodLuke 18.9-14 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C In the Gospel this Sunday, we hear Jesus talking about people praying. One of the...
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 11, 20192 minLord, Open my Lips...Luke 17.11-19 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C A strange thing happens in the Gospel we hear today. Ten people who are sick ask Jesus...
thebetterpartAug 31, 20192 minThe Right Order of ThingsLuke 14:1, 7-14 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C When I listened to this reading, I noticed these words: "the guests chose the places...