(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 that the response on day will bubble up organically. You could begin by reading the Gospel aloud to the child. Alternatively, you could read the first paragraph of the reflection to the child, then read the Gospel, and then continue with the reflection.)
In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus tells a parable. We know that parables are stories that are little mysteries for us to think about. We ask ourselves, what more does Jesus mean? This parable, Jesus says, is about being "rich toward God." Rich toward God? What can that mean?
Jesus says,
“The land of a rich man produced abundantly.
In this parable there is a man and there is land. The land, Jesus says, produces abundantly. Abundantly—what does that mean?
Abundantly means enough and more than enough. Everything we need and more.
Let's think a little more about that.
If we are thirsty—so thirsty—and someone gives us a small glass of water, that is enough. We drink the water and we are no longer thirsty.
But if we are thirsty—so thirsty—and someone gets a large glass, adds some ice cubes, fills it to the brim with water, and places the pitcher of water down beside us so that we can refill our glass with more, that is more than enough. They have given to us abundantly. We have everything we need and more.
In the parable, the land produces abundantly. The land grows enough and more than enough crops. Crops are food, like wheat or corn—tall plants that wave to God. If the land produces abundantly there is enough food for the man and more than enough. He has been given everything he needs and more.
Who has given all this to the man? Whose strength fills the land so that crops can grow? Who has given to him abundantly?
We know who it is.
And the rich man thought to himself, ‘What should I do?'
Oh, this is a good question. When someone gives us everything we need and more, what do we do? We stretch out our arms to thank them!
Just like the wheat and corn, waving to God, so do we. We sing our praise, Alleluia!