Children's Liturgy Guide

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B · Ordinary Time

God's Spirit for Everyone

Reading: Numbers 11:25-29

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, God shares His special Spirit with many helpers, not just the leaders in the special tent. Moses is happy that God's Spirit can work through anyone, and he wishes everyone could receive God's gifts.

Key Points

  • God gave His Spirit to seventy elders to help Moses lead the people
  • Two men named Eldad and Medad received the Spirit even though they stayed in the camp
  • Joshua wanted Moses to stop them, but Moses welcomed their prophesying
  • Moses wished that all God's people could receive the Spirit
  • God's gifts are for sharing, not for keeping to ourselves

Background

This passage from Numbers occurs during Israel's wilderness wandering when Moses feels overwhelmed by leadership responsibilities. God responds by distributing the Spirit among seventy elders. The theological tension arises when Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp rather than at the tent of meeting. Joshua's protective instinct to stop them reflects a common human tendency toward exclusivity with God's gifts. Moses's generous response, wishing all could be prophets, prefigures the universal outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. For children, emphasize that God wants to share His Spirit with many people, and we should be happy when others do good things for God, not jealous or upset. Set aside the complex historical context of Israelite leadership structures and the theological nuances of prophetic authority.

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 sharing Your Holy Spirit with all of us. Help us to be happy when others do good things and to know that Your love is big enough for everyone. 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.

Have you ever felt a little upset when someone else got to do something special that you thought only you should do?

Example: One time my little brother got to help Daddy fix something and I thought only I was the helper, so I felt kind of mad at first.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes we feel like special jobs or gifts should only be for certain people. In today's reading, we will hear about a man named Joshua who felt upset when some people got a special gift from God that he thought they should not have, and how Moses helped him see things differently.

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 did God give His special Spirit to in this story?

    Example: God gave His special Spirit to seventy helpers called elders so they could help Moses lead the people.

  2. What were the two men named Eldad and Medad doing in the camp?

    Example: Eldad and Medad were prophesying, which means they were speaking God's words in the camp where everyone lived.

  3. What did Joshua want Moses to do about Eldad and Medad?

    Example: Joshua wanted Moses to stop them because he thought they should not be allowed to prophesy there.

  4. Why do you think Moses was happy instead of upset about Eldad and Medad?

    Example: Moses was happy because he wanted everyone to have God's Spirit and do good things for God, not just some people.

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 might you feel if a new friend at school got picked to do a special job you really wanted?

    Example: I might feel a little sad or jealous at first, but then I could try to be happy for them.

  2. What could you do if you see someone else doing something good for God or helping others?

    Example: I could tell them they did a great job and be happy that God is helping them do good things.

  3. This week, who is someone you could cheer for when they do something well, even if you wish you could do it too?

    Example: I could cheer for my sister when she reads really well at home, even if I want to be the best reader.

Recap

Today we heard how God shared His Spirit with many helpers, not just the ones everyone expected. When Joshua wanted to stop Eldad and Medad, Moses said he wished everyone could have God's Spirit. This teaches us that God's gifts are for sharing, and we should be happy when others do good things for God.

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 left out or jealous, that they may come to know God's Spirit works through them too, 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 the priest extends his hands over the gifts during the Eucharistic Prayer and calls down the Holy Spirit, this echoes how God poured out His Spirit on the elders in today's reading. The Spirit comes to change ordinary bread and wine, just as the Spirit came to ordinary people to help them serve God.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Loving God, thank You for giving Your Spirit to all of us. Help us to be glad when others receive Your gifts and to share Your love with everyone we meet. 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

God's Spirit for Everyone

Numbers 11:25-29

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

Words to find

  • Spirit
  • Moses
  • Joshua
  • Eldad
  • Medad
  • elders
  • prophesy
  • share
  • gifts
  • camp
  • happy
  • tent

ChildrensLiturgy.org