Children's Liturgy Guide

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A · Ordinary Time

Be Ready and Waiting

Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

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

Jesus tells a story about ten young women waiting for a wedding party. Five of them brought extra oil for their lamps and were ready when the bridegroom came, but five ran out of oil and missed the party. Jesus wants us to always be ready for him.

Key Points

  • Jesus tells us to be ready because we do not know when he will come
  • The wise bridesmaids prepared ahead of time and kept their lamps burning bright
  • Being ready for Jesus means staying close to him through prayer and doing good things
  • We can prepare our hearts every day so we are always ready to welcome Jesus

Background

This parable contrasts the wise and foolish virgins awaiting the bridegroom, a symbol of Christ. The oil traditionally represents good works, prayer, and the Holy Spirit sustaining our spiritual life. The eschatological warning, 'Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour,' calls believers to vigilance. The closed door represents final judgment and the irreversibility of unpreparedness. For children, emphasize the concrete image of keeping a lamp lit and being ready, connecting it to how we stay close to Jesus every day through prayer and kindness. Set aside the heavier themes of final judgment and eternal exclusion.

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 loving us and always being with us. Help us to keep our hearts ready for you every single day. 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 had to wait for something really special, like a birthday party or someone coming to visit? What did you do to get ready?

Example: When my grandma was coming to visit, I helped my mom clean my room and I made a picture for her and I kept looking out the window to see her car.

Bridge to the reading: You worked so hard to be ready for your special visitor! In today's story, Jesus tells us about some young women who had to wait for a very important person to arrive, and some of them were ready while others were not.

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. How many young women were waiting in the story Jesus told?

    Example: There were ten young women waiting for the bridegroom to come to the wedding party.

  2. What did the young women need to keep burning while they waited?

    Example: They needed to keep their oil lamps burning so they could have light when it got dark outside.

  3. What was different about the five wise young women compared to the foolish ones?

    Example: The wise young women brought extra oil with them so their lamps would keep burning, but the foolish ones did not bring any extra oil.

  4. Why do you think Jesus wants us to be ready like the wise young women?

    Example: I think Jesus wants us to be ready because we do not know when he will come, and he wants us to be happy and not miss out.

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 feel when you are ready for something important versus when you forget to get ready?

    Example: When I am ready it feels good and calm, but when I forget to get ready I feel worried and rushed and kind of sad.

  2. What are some ways we can keep our hearts ready for Jesus, like keeping a lamp lit?

    Example: We can say our prayers every day and be kind to people and go to Mass and talk to Jesus before bed.

  3. This week, what is one thing you can do each morning to remember that Jesus is with you?

    Example: I can say a little prayer when I wake up and ask Jesus to help me be kind and ready for him today.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus tell a story about ten young women waiting for a wedding. Five of them were wise and brought extra oil to keep their lamps shining bright. Jesus wants us to be like them, keeping our hearts ready for him every day by praying and being kind.

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 learning to pray and stay close to Jesus, that they may keep their hearts ready for him every day, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for teaching us to be ready for you. Help us to keep our hearts shining bright like lamps, filled with your love. 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

Be Ready and Waiting

Matthew 25:1-13

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.

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

Words to find

  • ready
  • lamps
  • oil
  • waiting
  • wise
  • bridegroom
  • light
  • wedding
  • Jesus
  • prepared
  • awake
  • hearts

ChildrensLiturgy.org