Children's Liturgy Guide

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B · Ordinary Time

Jesus Shows Us His True Family

Reading: Mark 3:20-35

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 us that everyone who does what God wants is part of His family. When people follow God and love others, they become like brothers and sisters to Jesus. This means we can all belong to Jesus' special family.

Key Points

  • Jesus teaches that His family is not just about blood relatives but about doing God's will
  • Anyone who follows God becomes part of Jesus' family: brother, sister, and mother
  • Jesus invites everyone to belong to Him through love and obedience to God
  • Being in Jesus' family means we are connected to each other too

Background

This Gospel passage is rich and complex. Jesus is surrounded by crowds, His relatives think He has lost His mind, and scribes accuse Him of being possessed by Beelzebul. Jesus responds with parables about a divided kingdom and house, then with the serious warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The passage concludes with Jesus redefining family around those who do God's will. For children, emphasize the final scene where Jesus looks at those seated around Him and declares them His true family, setting aside the confrontation with scribes and the difficult teaching about unforgivable sin. The theological depth here concerns how Jesus expands the notion of belonging: not ethnic Israel, not biological kinship, but obedient love of the Father. Children can grasp the wonderful invitation that they too are Jesus' brothers and sisters when they try to do what God wants.

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 inviting us into Your family. Help us to listen to God and to do what is good and loving, so we can grow closer to You each 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.

Who is in your family, and what makes them your family?

Example: My family is my mom, my dad, my little brother, and my grandma who lives with us. They are my family because we live together and love each other and take care of each other.

Bridge to the reading: Families are so special because we love each other and belong together. In today's reading, Jesus tells us something amazing about His family. He says that anyone who listens to God and does what God wants becomes part of His very own family, like His brother or sister.

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 was Jesus when His mother and brothers came looking for Him?

    Example: Jesus was inside a house, and there were lots of people sitting around Him in a big crowd listening to Him teach.

  2. What did the people tell Jesus when His family arrived?

    Example: The people told Jesus that His mother and His brothers were outside, and they were looking for Him and asking for Him.

  3. Who did Jesus say is His brother and sister and mother?

    Example: Jesus looked at the people sitting around Him and said that whoever does what God wants is His brother and sister and mother.

  4. Why do you think Jesus said that doing God's will makes someone part of His family?

    Example: I think Jesus said that because when we listen to God and do good things, we are close to Jesus and connected to Him like a real family.

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 to know that Jesus calls you His brother or sister?

    Example: It makes me feel really happy and special because Jesus is so good, and it is amazing that He wants me to be in His family.

  2. What is one thing you can do at home to show you want to be part of Jesus' family?

    Example: I can help my mom clean up after dinner without complaining, because that is doing something good like God wants me to do.

  3. This week, how can you show a friend at school that they belong to Jesus' family too?

    Example: I can be kind to someone who is sitting alone at lunch and invite them to play with me so they feel like they belong.

Recap

Today we heard that Jesus teaches us something wonderful about family. He said that anyone who does what God wants is His brother, sister, and mother. That means when we listen to God and try to do good things, we become part of Jesus' own family. We all belong to Him.

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 like they do not belong, that they may know they are loved and welcomed into Jesus' family, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, thank You for calling us Your brothers and sisters. Help us to do what God wants so we can stay close to You and love one another as Your true family. 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 Shows Us His True Family

Mark 3:20-35

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • family
  • brother
  • sister
  • mother
  • listen
  • God
  • love
  • belong
  • follow
  • home
  • heart

ChildrensLiturgy.org