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...
Discipleship
thebetterpart
- Sep 21
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 21
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 16
- 2 min
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Faithful in the Very Little
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday contains a difficult moral parable that really does not apply to our 3-6-year-olds! But then Jesus...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 3
- 3 min
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Disciples Follow
(Adults, the Gospel for this Sunday deals with the cost of discipleship. Three years ago I decided that I could not write a reflection...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 3
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 3
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 15
- 2 min
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Together With Jesus
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 15
- 3 min
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Focusing
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 15
- 3 min
16th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Head and Heart
(I am considering this Sunday the feast day of this website. When you read the Gospel, you will know why. The whole Gospel is included in...
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thebetterpart
- Jun 29
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Jun 29
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Jun 25
- 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...
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thebetterpart
- Jun 25
- 4 min
13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): 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 9.51-62 In the...
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thebetterpart
- Jun 11
- 3 min
Trinity Sunday (Ages 9-12): One Step at a Time
(Begin by reading the Gospel. It is a short one, but you might ask someone to read it to you. The Word is better heard.) John 16.12-15 We...
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thebetterpart
- May 27
- 4 min
Ascension of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Everything Must Be Fulfilled
Luke 24.44-53 We are reaching the end of the forty-nine days of the Easter season and soon will be celebrating the coming of the Holy...
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thebetterpart
- May 13
- 2 min
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Love This Way
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
33 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 30
- 5 min
3rd Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Abundance, Mercy, Matter
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
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thebetterpart
- Apr 22
- 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 rises from the dead, so full of the Risen Life...
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thebetterpart
- Feb 10
- 3 min
6th 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...
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thebetterpart
- Feb 10
- 4 min
6th 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...
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thebetterpart
- Feb 4
- 3 min
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Abundance
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
37 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Feb 4
- 4 min
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Noticed
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
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thebetterpart
- Feb 4
- 4 min
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Work Enough For All
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 5.1-11 In the...
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thebetterpart
- Jan 28
- 4 min
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Prophets Along the Way
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Luke 4.21-30 Last week...
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thebetterpart
- Jan 13
- 3 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): The Mother of Jesus Knows
(Adults, you could begin by reading the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the...
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thebetterpart
- Jan 13
- 4 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): The Seventh Jar
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) John 2.1-12 The...
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thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2021
- 3 min
32nd 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.)...
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thebetterpart
- Nov 4, 2021
- 4 min
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): At the Temple
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 12.38-44 In the...
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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...
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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.)...
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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...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 22, 2021
- 3 min
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Close to Jesus
(Adults, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)...
37 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...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 22, 2021
- 5 min
26th 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,...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 15, 2021
- 3 min
25th 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.)...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 15, 2021
- 4 min
25th 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...
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thebetterpart
- Sep 8, 2021
- 5 min
24th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Being
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 8:27-35 Jesus...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 7, 2021
- 3 min
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Called to be Sent
(Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 7, 2021
- 4 min
15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Sandals and Staff
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 6.7-13 Last...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 2, 2021
- 4 min
14th 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...
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thebetterpart
- Jul 2, 2021
- 5 min
14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Prophet Like Him
(Begin by reading the Gospel. Sometimes it is good to have someone read it to you. The Word is meant to be heard.) Mark 6.1-6 After...
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thebetterpart
- May 13, 2021
- 3 min
Ascension of the Lord (Ages 9-12): Signs of the Spirit
Mark 16.15-20 We are reaching the end of the forty-nine days of the Easter season and soon will be celebrating the coming of the Holy...
23 views0 comments
thebetterpart
- Apr 29, 2021
- 3 min
5th Sunday of Easter (Ages 6-9): Meno in Me
John 15.1-8 In the Gospel for this Sunday, we hear Jesus tell part of the parable of the True Vine. This parable gives us so much to...
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thebetterpart
- Apr 29, 2021
- 5 min
5th Sunday of Easter (Ages 9-12): Joy in the Vine
John 15.1-8 Last week, we heard part of the parable of the Good Shepherd. This week we hear, Jesus tell part of the parable of the True...
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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
- Jan 27, 2021
- 4 min
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 9-12): Shown, Not Told
(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 1.21-28 Last...
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thebetterpart
- Jan 20, 2021
- 3 min
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Know His Voice
Mark 1.14-20 Last week we heard about people beginning to follow Jesus. We learned that a disciple is a person who follows someone. In...
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thebetterpart
- Jan 20, 2021
- 3 min
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 6-9): Meeting Us
Mark 1.14-20 Last week we heard St. John's account of how Andrew and Simon Peter become disciples of Jesus. This week we hear St. Mark's...
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thebetterpart
- Jan 14, 2021
- 3 min
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ages 3-6): Follow
John 1.35-42 Last week, we heard about John the Baptist baptizing Jesus in the River Jordan. At the beginning of the Gospel for this...
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