Children's Liturgy Guide

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A · Ordinary Time

A Mother Who Did Not Give Up

Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

In today's reading, a mother asks Jesus to help her sick daughter. At first Jesus does not answer, but she keeps asking because she believes Jesus can help. Jesus sees her great faith and heals her daughter.

Key Points

  • The woman was not from Israel, but she still believed Jesus could help her.
  • She did not give up when Jesus was silent or when things seemed hard.
  • Jesus praised her faith and answered her prayer.
  • God listens to everyone who comes to Him with trust.
  • Perseverance in prayer shows deep faith.

Background

This passage can be challenging because Jesus initially seems to ignore or even rebuff the Canaanite woman. Scholars understand this as Jesus testing and ultimately highlighting her faith, and as a moment that foreshadows the Gospel going out to all nations, not just Israel. The woman's response shows remarkable humility and persistent trust. The phrase about dogs and crumbs reflects cultural and religious boundaries of the time, which Jesus ultimately transcends by granting her request. For children, emphasize the mother's love for her daughter, her refusal to give up, and how Jesus saw her great faith and helped her. Set aside the complex dynamics of Jewish-Gentile relations and focus on persistent, trusting prayer.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear Jesus, thank You for always listening when we talk to You. Help us to have strong faith like the mother in today's story, and to never give up when we pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever asked a grown-up for something really important, and you had to keep asking because they did not answer right away?

Example: One time I really wanted my mom to help me find my lost toy, and I kept asking her please, please, please until she finally helped me look for it.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes when we really need something, we do not give up asking. In today's reading, we will hear about a mother who kept asking Jesus for help because she loved her daughter so much and believed Jesus could make her better.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Who came to ask Jesus for help in this story?

    Example: A mother came to ask Jesus for help because her daughter was very sick and she wanted Jesus to make her better.

  2. What did the mother keep doing even when Jesus did not answer her at first?

    Example: She kept following Jesus and asking Him over and over again to please help her daughter get well.

  3. What did Jesus say about the mother at the end of the story?

    Example: Jesus said that she had great faith, and He told her that her daughter would be healed because she believed.

  4. Why do you think the mother did not give up, even when it was hard?

    Example: I think she loved her daughter so much and she really believed that Jesus was the only one who could help her.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think the mother felt when Jesus finally helped her daughter?

    Example: I think she felt so happy and thankful because she kept believing and Jesus heard her and made her daughter better.

  2. When you pray to Jesus and it feels like He is not answering, what can you do?

    Example: I can keep praying and not give up because Jesus always hears me, even if I have to wait a little while.

  3. This week, who is someone you could keep praying for, even if it takes a long time?

    Example: I could keep praying for my grandma who is sick and ask Jesus to help her feel better every single day.

Recap

Today we heard about a mother who loved her daughter so much that she would not stop asking Jesus for help. Even when it seemed hard, she kept believing. Jesus saw her great faith and healed her daughter. We can be like her and keep trusting Jesus when we pray.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all the moms and dads who are praying for their children who are sick or hurting, that Jesus may hear their prayers and give them hope, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

Just before Communion, we echo words like this woman's humble trust when we pray, 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.' Like the Canaanite woman, we come to Jesus humbly, trusting that He can help us.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank You, Jesus, for listening to us when we pray. Help us to have faith like the mother in today's story and to never stop trusting in You. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

A Mother Who Did Not Give Up

Matthew 15:21-28

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

D I H I I T A T A Z Z L O V E
K S Y Y A R P R S F W E R V G
O T D T R D B G G U I V A A R
H Q R M H F N L D P R E A L E
N S D E L A E H D A I T P V T
J D X C Z S U N X R A S N Y H
E U J B V Y A M J I Y F R A G
S M I I E T E O K L N A W D U
U Y G Q E C V T N H B I H L A
S D R M K C E H H F H T O P D
E U G E Q K I E T V G H P P L
U C H S G Y L R E O E N E D S
U P E A I X E G N I K S A C H
S M L X A K B P S Y B I Y Q O
R D P L K S S Q B S C Q P K F

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • mother
  • daughter
  • faith
  • pray
  • believe
  • trust
  • help
  • healed
  • asking
  • hope
  • love

ChildrensLiturgy.org