Children's Liturgy Guide

3rd Sunday of Lent

Year B · Lent

Jesus Loves God's House

Reading: John 2:13-25

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 goes to the Temple in Jerusalem and finds people buying and selling animals and changing money there. Jesus is upset because the Temple is his Father's house, a special place for praying to God, not a marketplace.

Key Points

  • Jesus called the Temple 'my Father's house,' showing his special relationship with God
  • Jesus was upset because people were treating God's special house like a store instead of a place for prayer
  • We can show love for God by treating holy places and prayer time with respect
  • Lent is a time to think about how we can make more room for God in our hearts

Background

This passage shows Jesus cleansing the Temple of money changers and animal sellers who had turned the sacred space into a commercial enterprise. The Temple was meant to be a house of prayer, but had become cluttered with worldly concerns. Jesus's action reveals his divine authority and his zeal for proper worship of the Father. The phrase 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up' is a reference to his own body and resurrection, which the disciples understood only after Easter. For children, emphasize that Jesus loves God's house and wants it to be a place where people can pray and be close to God, setting aside the deeper Christological claims about Jesus as the new Temple.

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 giving us churches where we can come to pray and be close to you. Help us to love your house the way Jesus did and to always remember that you are with us there. 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 a special place that you wanted to keep nice and clean, like your bedroom or a favorite spot? How did you feel when someone made a mess there?

Example: I have a little reading corner in my room with my favorite books and stuffed animals, and I felt really upset when my little brother came in and threw toys everywhere because it was my special place.

Bridge to the reading: You know how important it is to take care of special places. In today's reading, Jesus goes to the most special place of all, God's Temple, and he finds people have turned it into a messy marketplace instead of a place for prayer.

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. Where did Jesus go in today's story?

    Example: Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was the special big building where people went to pray to God and worship him.

  2. What did Jesus find people doing inside the Temple?

    Example: Jesus found people selling cows and sheep and pigeons, and there were people sitting at tables changing money like it was a store.

  3. What did Jesus do when he saw all of this happening in the Temple?

    Example: Jesus made a whip out of cords and drove the animals out, and he turned over the tables where people were changing money.

  4. Why do you think Jesus was so upset about what was happening in the Temple?

    Example: I think Jesus was upset because the Temple was supposed to be a quiet, holy place for praying to God, and people were treating it like a noisy market instead.

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 feel when you walk into church on Sunday? What makes it feel different from other places?

    Example: I feel calm and quiet when I walk into church because there are candles and it smells nice and everyone whispers, and it feels like God is really close to me there.

  2. What are some ways we can show that church is a special place when we visit?

    Example: We can walk quietly and not run around, and we can use gentle voices, and we can pay attention during Mass and fold our hands when we pray.

  3. This week during Lent, how could you make your prayer time at home more special and focused on God?

    Example: I could find a quiet spot in my house and turn off the TV and really talk to God without getting distracted by my toys or games.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus went to the Temple and found people buying and selling things there instead of praying. Jesus was upset because the Temple was his Father's house, a special place for being close to God. Jesus wants us to love and respect God's house too, keeping it as a place for prayer.

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 children who come to church each week, that they may feel God's love in his holy house, 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.

When we enter church, we dip our fingers in holy water and make the Sign of the Cross. This gesture reminds us that we are entering a special, holy place set apart for God, just as Jesus knew the Temple was his Father's special house.

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 how much you love your house. Help us during this season of Lent to show respect in church and to make room in our hearts for 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

Jesus Loves God's House

John 2:13-25

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Temple
  • prayer
  • Father
  • house
  • respect
  • holy
  • Lent
  • church
  • worship
  • love

ChildrensLiturgy.org