Children's Liturgy Guide

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B · Ordinary Time

Staying With Jesus

Reading: John 6:60-69

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, some people stopped following Jesus because his teaching was hard to understand. But Peter and the other disciples chose to stay with Jesus because they knew he was special and they trusted him completely.

Key Points

  • Some followers found Jesus's teaching difficult and walked away
  • Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to leave too
  • Peter spoke up and said they would stay because Jesus has the words that give us true life with God
  • Peter declared his belief that Jesus is the Holy One of God
  • Choosing to follow Jesus is a decision we make, even when it is hard

Background

This passage concludes the Bread of Life discourse in John 6. Many disciples found Jesus's teaching about eating his flesh and drinking his blood too difficult and left. Jesus then turned to the Twelve, giving them the freedom to leave as well. Peter's response is a profound act of faith: he does not claim to fully understand, but he recognizes that Jesus alone has 'the words of eternal life' and confesses Jesus as 'the Holy One of God.' This echoes the Synoptic confessions at Caesarea Philippi. The theology here touches on free will, the cost of discipleship, and the Eucharistic implications of the discourse. For children, emphasize that Peter chose to stay with Jesus because he trusted him, even when things were confusing. Set aside the deeper Eucharistic theology and focus on the choice to stay close to Jesus.

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 always being with us and for inviting us to follow you. Help us to trust you and stay close to you, even when things are hard to understand. 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 decide whether to keep trying something hard, like learning to ride a bike or read a tricky word, or to give up?

Example: One time I was learning to tie my shoes and it was really hard. I wanted to stop but my mom helped me keep trying until I did it.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes things feel hard and we want to give up. In today's reading, we will hear about a time when following Jesus felt hard for some people, and they had to decide whether to stay with him or walk away.

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 some of the people who were following Jesus decide to do when his teaching was hard?

    Example: Some of the people decided to stop following Jesus and they walked away from him because they did not understand.

  2. What question did Jesus ask Peter and the other disciples?

    Example: Jesus asked them if they wanted to go away too, like the other people who left him.

  3. What did Peter say when Jesus asked if they would leave?

    Example: Peter said they would not leave because Jesus has the words that bring real life and they believed in him.

  4. Why do you think Peter decided to stay with Jesus even though it was hard to understand?

    Example: I think Peter stayed because he loved Jesus and he trusted that Jesus was telling the truth even if it was confusing.

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 think Peter felt when Jesus asked if he wanted to leave too?

    Example: I think Peter might have felt a little scared but also sure because he really loved Jesus and wanted to stay with him.

  2. What is something you can do when praying or learning about Jesus feels hard or confusing?

    Example: I can keep trying and ask my mom or dad or my teacher to help me understand better.

  3. This week, how can you show Jesus that you want to stay close to him?

    Example: I can say my prayers before bed every night and try to listen at Mass even when it is hard.

Recap

Today we heard that some people stopped following Jesus because his words were hard. But Peter chose to stay. He said Jesus has the words that bring real life, and he believed Jesus is the Holy One of God. We can choose to stay close to Jesus too, even when it is hard.

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 finding it hard to learn about Jesus, that they will have people to help them and that they will keep trying, 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.

Before we receive Holy Communion, the priest holds up the host and says 'The Body of Christ,' and we say 'Amen.' That 'Amen' is like Peter saying 'Yes, I believe in you, Jesus' in today's reading. We are choosing to stay with Jesus just like Peter did.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us today about Peter who chose to stay with you. Help us to be like Peter and stay close to you every day, trusting in 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

Staying With Jesus

John 6:60-69

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Peter
  • follow
  • stay
  • believe
  • trust
  • words
  • life
  • choose
  • disciples
  • faith
  • listen

ChildrensLiturgy.org