Children's Liturgy Guide

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Jesus Shares Good News

Reading: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

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 went to his hometown church and read from a special scroll. He told everyone that God sent him to bring good news to people who need help and to make things right.

Key Points

  • Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue
  • Jesus announced that he was sent by God to help people
  • God's Spirit was with Jesus to do this special work
  • Jesus brings good news especially to those who are poor or hurting
  • This reading shows us who Jesus is and what he came to do

Background

This Gospel combines Luke's prologue with Jesus' dramatic announcement in the Nazareth synagogue. Jesus reads Isaiah 61, a prophecy about the anointed servant who will bring liberation and healing. When Jesus declares 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,' he is making a stunning claim: he is the promised Messiah, anointed by the Spirit to inaugurate God's kingdom. The 'year of the Lord's favor' echoes the Jubilee, a time of release and restoration. For children, emphasize that Jesus stood up and told everyone about his special job from God: to share good news and help people who are sad or need help. Set aside the complex prophetic and messianic theology; focus on Jesus telling us who he is and what he came to do.

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 sending Jesus to bring us good news. Help us to listen carefully today and to share your love with others. 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 had really exciting news that you wanted to tell everyone about?

Example: Yes! When my baby sister was born, I ran to tell my grandma and all my friends at school because I was so happy and excited about it.

Bridge to the reading: It feels so wonderful to share exciting news with people we love. In today's reading, we will hear about Jesus standing up in church to share the most important good news of all, telling everyone about his special job from God.

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. Where did Jesus go to read from the special scroll?

    Example: Jesus went to the synagogue, which was like a church in his hometown where people went to pray and listen to God's word together.

  2. What did Jesus say God sent him to do?

    Example: Jesus said God sent him to bring good news to poor people and to help people who were sad or hurting or needed to be free.

  3. What did Jesus say after he finished reading the scroll?

    Example: Jesus said that today this special promise from long ago was coming true, right there while everyone was listening to him speak.

  4. Why do you think Jesus wanted to tell everyone about his special job?

    Example: I think Jesus wanted people to know that God loved them and that he was there to help them and make things better for everyone.

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 feel when someone shares good news with you?

    Example: I feel really happy inside, like when my friend told me I could come to her birthday party and I smiled so big.

  2. Who is someone at school or in your neighborhood who might need to hear that God loves them?

    Example: Maybe the new kid in my class who sits alone at lunch, because he might feel sad and need a friend to be nice to him.

  3. This week, how could you share good news about God's love with someone in your family?

    Example: I could tell my little brother that God loves him when he is scared at bedtime, and maybe that will help him feel better.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus stood up in church and told everyone about his special job from God. He said God sent him to bring good news to people who need help and to make sad people happy. Jesus wants us to share this good news with others too.

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 sad or lonely and need to hear the good news that God loves them, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing us good news and showing us God's love. Help us to be like you and share your love with everyone we meet this week. 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 Shares Good News

Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • scroll
  • synagogue
  • news
  • Spirit
  • Isaiah
  • promise
  • love
  • help
  • today
  • read
  • God

ChildrensLiturgy.org