Children's Liturgy Guide

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A · Ordinary Time

We Belong to God

Reading: Matthew 22:15-21

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

Some people tried to trick Jesus with a hard question about money. Jesus showed them a coin with a king's picture on it. He taught that we should give to the king what is his, but we belong to God because God made us.

Key Points

  • Jesus was wise and could not be tricked by clever questions
  • A coin has a picture showing who it belongs to
  • We belong to God because God made us in His image
  • We show we belong to God through how we live each day

Background

In this passage, the Pharisees and Herodians attempt to trap Jesus with a politically charged question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus masterfully avoids their snare by asking for a denarius and pointing out Caesar's image on the coin. His response, 'Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God,' operates on multiple levels: it acknowledges legitimate civil authority while asserting the primacy of our obligations to God. The deeper theological point is that while coins bear Caesar's image, humans bear God's image (Genesis 1:27), and therefore we owe our very selves to God. For children, emphasize the simple idea that we belong to God who made us, and we can show this belonging through everyday actions at home, school, and church. Set aside the political complexity and focus on the concrete image of recognizing whose picture is on the coin and what that means about belonging.

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 making each one of us and for loving us so much. Help us to listen carefully today and learn what it means to belong to You. 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 written your name on something to show it belongs to you, like a lunchbox or a book?

Example: Yes, I wrote my name on my backpack so everyone knows it is mine and not someone else's backpack.

Bridge to the reading: When we put our name on something, everyone knows it belongs to us. In today's reading, Jesus uses a coin with a picture on it to teach something very important about who we belong to.

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 did the people come to ask Jesus about?

    Example: They came to ask Jesus a tricky question about whether they should pay money or taxes to the king.

  2. What did Jesus ask them to show Him?

    Example: Jesus asked them to show Him a coin, and they brought one to Him so He could look at it.

  3. Whose picture was on the coin?

    Example: The picture on the coin was Caesar's face. Caesar was the ruler, kind of like a king.

  4. Why do you think Jesus wanted them to look at the picture on the coin?

    Example: I think Jesus wanted to show them that the coin belonged to Caesar because his face was on it.

Application Questions

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

  1. God made you special. What is one thing you can do at home to show your family you belong to God?

    Example: I can help my mom set the table for dinner without being asked and do it with a happy heart.

  2. When you are at school with your friends, how could you show that you belong to God?

    Example: I could share my crayons with someone who does not have any and be a good friend to them.

  3. At Mass this week, what is one way you can give your attention to God?

    Example: I can fold my hands and really listen to the prayers instead of looking around at other people.

Recap

Today we heard how some people tried to trick Jesus with a question about a coin. Jesus showed them that the coin had Caesar's picture, so it belonged to Caesar. But Jesus also taught us something wonderful: we belong to God because God made us. We can show we belong to God at home, at school, and at Mass.

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 at school this week, that they may remember they belong to God and share His love with their classmates, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, thank You for teaching us through Jesus that we belong to You. Help us this week to show we are Yours at home, at school, and at church. 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

We Belong to God

Matthew 22:15-21

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • coin
  • Caesar
  • picture
  • belong
  • God
  • image
  • give
  • heart
  • ruler
  • teach
  • money

ChildrensLiturgy.org