Children's Liturgy Guide

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year B · Ordinary Time

Love God and Love Others

Reading: Mark 12:28b-34

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

A man asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Jesus told him to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said these two kinds of love are the most important things of all.

Key Points

  • Jesus teaches that loving God completely is the greatest commandment
  • Jesus connects love of God with love of neighbor as equally important
  • The scribe understood and agreed with Jesus, showing he was close to God's kingdom
  • Loving with our whole heart means God comes first in everything we do

Background

In this passage, a scribe approaches Jesus with genuine curiosity rather than hostility, asking which commandment is first. Jesus responds by quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the foundational Jewish prayer affirming monotheism and total devotion to God. He then adds Leviticus 19:18 about loving neighbor. The scribe's affirmation that these commandments exceed burnt offerings shows spiritual maturity, prompting Jesus to say he is not far from the kingdom. The theological depth here involves the integration of vertical love (toward God) and horizontal love (toward neighbor) as inseparable. For children, emphasize the simple truth that Jesus wants us to love God with everything we have and to love the people around us the same way we love ourselves. Set aside the discussion of sacrifices and the kingdom proximity language.

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. Please help us learn how to love You with our whole hearts and to love the people around us. 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 someone you love very, very much, and how do you show them you love them?

Example: I love my mom so much and I show her by giving her big hugs and helping her clean up my toys without being asked.

Bridge to the reading: You shared such wonderful ways you show love to the people you care about. In today's reading, Jesus tells us about the most important way to love, and it includes loving God with everything we have and loving the people around us too.

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 came to ask Jesus a question in today's reading?

    Example: A man came to Jesus to ask him a question. The man wanted to know which commandment was the most important one of all.

  2. What did Jesus say was the first and greatest commandment?

    Example: Jesus said to love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength.

  3. What other commandment did Jesus say was also very important?

    Example: Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. That means loving other people the same way you love yourself.

  4. Why do you think Jesus said these two kinds of love are the most important?

    Example: Maybe because when we love God and love other people, we are being kind and good and that makes God happy.

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 inside when you know that someone loves you with their whole heart?

    Example: It feels really warm and happy inside, like when my grandma hugs me tight and says she loves me so much.

  2. What is one way you could show love to someone at school who might feel alone?

    Example: I could sit with someone at lunch who does not have anyone to sit with and be their friend and talk to them.

  3. This week, what is one way you could show God that you love Him with your whole heart?

    Example: I could say my prayers every night before bed and really think about the words and thank God for my family.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus teach us about the two most important commandments. Jesus said we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also said we should love other people just as much as we love ourselves. When we love God completely and love the people around us, we are doing what makes God happiest.

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 unloved or forgotten, that they may come to know how much God loves them, 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 pray the Creed at Mass, we say we believe in one God. This is like when Jesus said the Lord our God is One, and we should love Him with all our heart.

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 how important it is to love. Help us to love You with our whole hearts this week and to show love to 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

Love God and Love Others

Mark 12:28b-34

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.

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

Words to find

  • love
  • heart
  • God
  • neighbor
  • Jesus
  • commandment
  • soul
  • strength
  • mind
  • first
  • greatest

ChildrensLiturgy.org