Children's Liturgy Guide

3rd Sunday of Easter

Year C · Easter

Jesus Asks Peter: Do You Love Me?

Reading: John 21:1-19

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

After Jesus rose from the dead, he visited his friends by the sea. He helped them catch many fish and made them breakfast. Then Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved him, and each time Peter said yes, Jesus told him to take care of his sheep.

Key Points

  • Jesus appears to his disciples after the resurrection and shares a meal with them
  • Peter had denied Jesus three times before, and now Jesus gives him three chances to say he loves him
  • When we say we love Jesus, he gives us a job to do: to love and care for others
  • Jesus forgives Peter and trusts him with an important task

Background

This post-resurrection appearance restores Peter after his threefold denial during the Passion. The threefold question mirrors the threefold denial, offering Peter complete reconciliation. Jesus uses two Greek words for love (agapao and phileo), though this nuance is beyond children. The command to 'feed my lambs' and 'tend my sheep' commissions Peter as shepherd of the early Church. For children, emphasize that Jesus forgives Peter completely and that when we love Jesus, we show it by being kind to others. Set aside the ecclesiological implications of Peter's primacy and the deeper theology of apostolic succession.

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 loving us and forgiving us when we make mistakes. Help us to show our love for you by being kind to everyone we meet. 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.

Has someone ever asked you if you really meant something, like 'Do you really promise?' Why do you think they asked you more than once?

Example: My mom asked me three times if I really would clean my room because I forgot before, and she wanted to make sure I meant it this time.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes people ask us important questions more than once because they really want us to think about our answer. In today's reading, Jesus asks his friend Peter the same question three times: 'Do you love me?' Let's listen to find out what happens.

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 were the disciples doing when Jesus appeared to them by the sea?

    Example: They were fishing in a boat, but they had not caught any fish all night long.

  2. What happened when Jesus told them to throw their net on the other side of the boat?

    Example: They caught so many fish that the net was really full and heavy, and they could not even pull it up.

  3. How many times did Jesus ask Peter if Peter loved him?

    Example: Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, which is a lot of times to ask the same thing.

  4. What did Jesus tell Peter to do each time Peter said he loved him?

    Example: Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs and take care of his sheep, which means helping other people who follow Jesus.

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 kept asking him the same question over and over?

    Example: I think Peter might have felt a little sad or worried because Jesus kept asking, but also happy that Jesus still wanted to talk to him.

  2. Jesus told Peter to take care of his sheep. Who are some people you can take care of and be kind to?

    Example: I can take care of my little sister when she is sad, or I can be nice to kids at school who need a friend.

  3. This week, how can you show Jesus that you love him by helping someone?

    Example: I can help my mom carry groceries without being asked, or I can share my snack with someone who forgot theirs at school.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus visited his friends by the sea after he rose from the dead. He helped them catch lots of fish and made them breakfast. Then Jesus asked Peter three times, 'Do you love me?' Each time Peter said yes, Jesus told him to take care of his sheep. Jesus shows us that when we love him, we show it by being kind and caring for others.

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 sorry for mistakes they have made, that they may know Jesus always forgives them and 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 say 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof' before Communion, we are like Peter feeling not good enough. But Jesus still comes to us, just like he still trusted Peter and gave him breakfast by the sea.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so much and for always forgiving us. Help us to say yes to you every day and to show our love by taking care of the people around us. 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 Asks Peter: Do You Love Me?

John 21:1-19

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Peter
  • fish
  • love
  • sheep
  • breakfast
  • net
  • sea
  • lambs
  • forgive
  • friends
  • boat

ChildrensLiturgy.org