Children's Liturgy Guide

7th Sunday of Easter

Year B · Easter

Jesus Prays for Us

Reading: John 17:11b-19

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, Jesus prays to His Father in heaven for His friends. He asks God to keep them safe and to help them stay close together, just like Jesus and His Father are close. Jesus loves His friends so much that He talks to God about them.

Key Points

  • Jesus prays to His Father for His disciples, asking God to protect them
  • Jesus wants His friends to be united and close to each other, just as He is close to the Father
  • Jesus asks that His friends be made holy through the truth of God's word
  • Even now, Jesus continues to pray for us and care for us

Background

This passage is part of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer at the Last Supper, prayed before His Passion. Jesus intercedes for His disciples, asking the Father to protect them from the evil one and to consecrate them in truth. The Greek word for 'consecrate' (hagiason) means to set apart for sacred purpose. Jesus emphasizes that His followers are 'in the world but not of the world,' a tension the Church still navigates. The unity Jesus prays for reflects the unity of the Trinity itself. For children, emphasize the simple, powerful truth that Jesus prays for us because He loves us, and set aside the theological complexity of consecration, the evil one, and Trinitarian unity.

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 Jesus prays for us. Help us to feel safe knowing that You are always watching over us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 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.

Has someone you love ever told you they were going to pray for you, or said something kind to help you feel safe?

Example: My grandma tells me she prays for me every night before she goes to sleep, and that makes me feel really happy and safe.

Bridge to the reading: It feels so good to know that someone who loves us is thinking about us and talking to God about us. In today's reading, we hear Jesus doing exactly that. He is praying to His Father in heaven for His friends, asking God to keep them safe and close together.

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 is Jesus talking to in this reading?

    Example: Jesus is talking to His Father in heaven. He is praying to God about His friends and asking God to help them.

  2. What does Jesus ask His Father to do for His friends?

    Example: Jesus asks His Father to keep His friends safe and to protect them. He wants God to take care of them.

  3. Did you notice that Jesus says His friends are in the world but not of the world? What do you think that means?

    Example: I think it means that Jesus' friends live here with everyone else, but they belong to God in a special way.

  4. Why do you think Jesus prayed for His friends instead of just telling them He loved them?

    Example: Maybe Jesus wanted God to help them because God is so powerful and can do anything to keep them safe.

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 inside to know that Jesus prays for you?

    Example: It makes me feel really happy and safe, like Jesus is always thinking about me even when I cannot see Him.

  2. When someone in your family is worried or scared, what could you do to help them feel better?

    Example: I could give them a hug and tell them I love them, and maybe I could pray for them too.

  3. This week, who is one person you could pray for before you go to sleep at night?

    Example: I could pray for my little brother because sometimes he gets scared of the dark and needs help.

Recap

Today we heard that Jesus prays for us. Just like someone who loves us might tell God about us, Jesus talks to His Father and asks Him to keep us safe and help us stay close to Him. Jesus loves us so much that He is always praying for us.

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 children who feel worried or afraid, that they may know Jesus is praying for them and keeping them safe, 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 sending Jesus to pray for us. Help us to remember that we are never alone because You are always watching over us. May we share Your love with everyone we meet this week. 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

Jesus Prays for Us

John 17:11b-19

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • prayer
  • Father
  • friends
  • safe
  • protect
  • love
  • heaven
  • truth
  • holy
  • world
  • together

ChildrensLiturgy.org