Children's Liturgy Guide

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Jesus Teaches Us to Pray

Reading: Luke 11:1-13

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 taught his friends a special prayer called the Our Father. He told them that God is like a loving Father who always listens when we talk to him and wants to give us good things.

Key Points

  • Jesus gave us the Our Father prayer as a gift to help us know how to talk to God.
  • God is our Father in heaven who loves us and listens to every prayer.
  • Jesus encourages us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking because God always answers.
  • God wants to give us good things, especially the Holy Spirit.

Background

This Gospel contains Jesus teaching the Lord's Prayer (the Our Father) and his instruction on persistent prayer. The parable of the friend at midnight emphasizes bold persistence in prayer, while the final verses assure us of God's generosity as a loving Father. Theologically, Jesus reveals God's intimate paternal relationship with humanity and invites us into that relationship through prayer. The climax is the promise of the Holy Spirit to those who ask. For children, emphasize that God is a loving Father who always listens to us, that Jesus gave us a special prayer to help us talk to God, and that we can always ask God for help. Set aside the more complex aspects of persistent prayer and the theology of the Holy Spirit's indwelling.

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 being our loving Father in heaven. Help us to learn how to pray to you the way Jesus taught his friends. 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 really wanted to ask someone for something, like asking your mom or dad for help with something important?

Example: One time I really wanted help building a tower and I asked my dad please please please and he came and helped me build it really tall.

Bridge to the reading: When we really need something, we know we can ask the people who love us. In today's reading, Jesus teaches his friends exactly how to ask God for help, and he gives them a very special prayer to use.

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 the disciples ask Jesus to teach them?

    Example: The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray because they saw him praying and wanted to learn too.

  2. What are some of the things Jesus told his friends to say in the prayer?

    Example: Jesus told them to say Our Father, and to ask for daily bread, and to ask for forgiveness for the things we do wrong.

  3. In the story about the friend who knocked on the door at night, what happened when he kept asking?

    Example: The friend inside finally got up and gave him the bread he needed because he kept knocking and asking.

  4. Why do you think Jesus wants us to keep asking God for things?

    Example: I think Jesus wants us to keep asking because God really loves us and wants to hear what we need and help us.

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 God is like a loving Father who always listens when you talk to him?

    Example: It makes me feel happy and safe inside because I know God cares about me and hears me.

  2. What is something you could talk to God about this week when you say your prayers?

    Example: I could tell God about my friend who was sad at school and ask him to help her feel better.

  3. When you are at Mass and we all pray the Our Father together, how can you remember that Jesus taught us this prayer?

    Example: I can close my eyes and think about how Jesus gave us these special words to talk to God our Father.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus taught his friends a special prayer called the Our Father. Jesus told us that God is our loving Father who always listens when we pray. We can ask God for anything we need, and he wants to give us good things because he loves us so much.

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 do not know how much God loves them, that they may come to know him as their loving Father, 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.

The Our Father that Jesus teaches in this Gospel is the exact prayer we pray together at Mass, right before we share the sign of peace. When we pray those words, we are using the very prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

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 to pray. Help us to remember that you are always listening and that you love 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 Teaches Us to Pray

Luke 11:1-13

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.

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

Words to find

  • prayer
  • Father
  • Jesus
  • asking
  • bread
  • heaven
  • friend
  • listen
  • forgive
  • knock
  • seek
  • love

ChildrensLiturgy.org