Children's Liturgy Guide

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Seeing People Who Need Help

Reading: Luke 16:19-31

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 tells a story about a rich man who had everything he wanted but never helped a poor man named Lazarus who sat hungry at his gate. Jesus wants us to notice when people need our help and to care for them.

Key Points

  • The rich man had many good things but did not share with Lazarus who was poor and hungry
  • Lazarus sat right at the rich man's gate, but the rich man ignored him every day
  • Jesus teaches us to open our eyes and hearts to people who need help, especially those close to us
  • God sees and cares for everyone, especially those who are suffering

Background

This parable contrasts the rich man living in luxury with Lazarus, a beggar covered in sores, lying at his gate. After death, their positions are reversed: Lazarus is comforted in Abraham's bosom while the rich man suffers in Hades. The rich man's sin was not wealth itself but his complete indifference to the suffering person at his own doorstep. The theological point concerns our responsibility to notice and respond to the poor among us. The afterlife imagery teaches that our earthly choices have eternal consequences, and that opportunities to help others do not last forever. For children, emphasize the simple message that Jesus wants us to see people who need help and to share what we have. Set aside the details about Hades, torment, and the unbridgeable chasm, which are too complex and potentially frightening for six year olds.

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 giving us eyes to see and hearts to love. Help us notice when someone needs our help today, and give us courage to be kind. 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 walked past someone who looked sad or needed help? What did you notice about them?

Example: One time I saw a kid sitting alone at recess and he looked really sad because nobody was playing with him and I felt bad for him.

Bridge to the reading: You noticed that person because you were paying attention with your heart. In today's story, Jesus tells us about a rich man who walked past someone who needed help every single day, but he never even stopped to look.

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 are the two people Jesus tells us about in this story?

    Example: Jesus tells us about a rich man who had lots of nice things and a poor man named Lazarus who was hungry and sick.

  2. Where did Lazarus sit every day, and what did he hope for?

    Example: Lazarus sat right at the gate of the rich man's house and he hoped to get even just the little scraps of food that fell from the table.

  3. What do you notice about what the rich man did to help Lazarus?

    Example: The rich man did not do anything to help Lazarus at all. He just walked past him every day and did not share his food or help him.

  4. Why do you think Jesus told this story to teach us something important?

    Example: I think Jesus wants us to pay attention when someone needs help and not just ignore them like the rich man did to poor Lazarus.

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 Lazarus felt when the rich man walked past him every day without helping?

    Example: I think Lazarus felt really sad and lonely because nobody cared about him and he was so hungry and sick and nobody stopped to help.

  2. What are some ways you could help someone at school who seems sad or left out?

    Example: I could go sit with them at lunch or ask them to play with me at recess or just smile at them and say hi.

  3. This week, who is one person you could pay extra attention to and show kindness?

    Example: I could pay attention to my little sister when she wants to play with me instead of saying no and walking away from her.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus tell a story about a rich man who ignored a poor, hungry man named Lazarus sitting right at his gate. Jesus wants us to open our eyes and hearts to notice people who need help. When we see someone who is sad, hungry, or left out, Jesus asks us to stop and help them.

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 the people in our neighborhood who are hungry or lonely, that we may notice them and share God's love with them, we pray to the Lord.

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 through this story. Help us to see the people around us who need help. Give us generous hearts to share what we have. 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

Seeing People Who Need Help

Luke 16:19-31

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.

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

Words to find

  • Lazarus
  • rich
  • poor
  • gate
  • hungry
  • help
  • share
  • kind
  • notice
  • Jesus
  • love
  • care

ChildrensLiturgy.org