Children's Liturgy Guide

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A · Ordinary Time

God's Wonderful Feast

Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a

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 this reading, the prophet Isaiah tells us that God is preparing a wonderful feast for all people on his mountain. At this feast, God will wipe away every tear and take away all sadness forever. It is a promise that God wants everyone to be happy with him.

Key Points

  • God promises to prepare a special feast with the best food for all people
  • God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, meaning he takes away our sadness
  • This feast happens on God's mountain, a special holy place
  • God's promise shows how much he loves us and wants us to be with him
  • We can trust God to keep his promises

Background

Isaiah 25 is an eschatological vision of the messianic banquet, a prophetic image of salvation and eternal life with God. The mountain of the Lord (Zion) represents God's dwelling place where death is conquered and all mourning ends. The rich food and fine wines symbolize the abundance of divine blessing. The veil and web being destroyed refers to the removal of everything that separates humanity from God, including death itself. For children, emphasize the concrete image of God preparing a wonderful party with delicious food because he loves us, and the tender picture of God wiping tears from faces like a parent comforts a child. Set aside the theological complexity of eschatology and the destruction of death.

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 God, thank you for loving us so much that you want us to be with you at your special feast. Help us listen today and learn about your wonderful promises. 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 been to a really special party or dinner where someone made your favorite foods just for you?

Example: Yes, at my birthday my grandma made me a chocolate cake with sprinkles because she knows I love chocolate so much!

Bridge to the reading: It feels so special when someone prepares good things just for us because they love us. In today's reading, we will hear about a very special feast that God is preparing, and he is inviting everyone because he loves us all so much.

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. What is God preparing for all people in this reading?

    Example: God is making a really big feast with yummy food and good drinks for everyone to come and eat.

  2. Where does the reading say this special feast will happen?

    Example: The feast is going to happen on God's mountain, which is a very special and holy place.

  3. What does God promise to wipe away from people's faces?

    Example: God says he will wipe away all the tears from everyone's faces so nobody is sad anymore.

  4. Why do you think God wants to take away people's sadness at this feast?

    Example: I think God wants everyone to be really happy because he loves us and does not want us to cry or feel bad.

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 does it make you feel to know that God wants to wipe away your tears when you are sad?

    Example: It makes me feel happy and safe because God cares about me and wants to make me feel better when I cry.

  2. What is something you could do to help someone who is sad, the way God comforts us?

    Example: I could give my friend a hug or sit with them and ask if they want to play with me so they feel better.

  3. This week at home, how could you share something special with your family like God shares his feast with us?

    Example: I could help my mom set the table really nice for dinner and share my snacks with my little brother.

Recap

Today we heard that God is preparing a wonderful feast for all people because he loves us so much. At this feast, God will wipe away every tear and take away all sadness forever. God wants us to be happy with him, and we can trust his promise.

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 children who are feeling sad today, that they may feel God's love wiping away their tears, 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.

At every Mass, we share a special meal together when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. This is like a little taste of the great feast God is preparing for us in heaven.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, thank you for preparing a wonderful feast for us and for promising to wipe away our tears. Help us to share your love with others and to trust in your promises always. 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

God's Wonderful Feast

Isaiah 25:6-10a

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.

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

Words to find

  • feast
  • mountain
  • tears
  • God
  • promise
  • food
  • happy
  • love
  • Isaiah
  • wipe
  • joy
  • Lord

ChildrensLiturgy.org