Children's Liturgy Guide

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Jesus Shares Good News at Home

Reading: Luke 4:21-30

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 synagogue and told the people that God's promises were coming true through him. But the people who knew him since he was little did not want to believe he was special, and they got very angry with him.

Key Points

  • Jesus announced that God's promises in Scripture were being fulfilled through him
  • The people of Nazareth knew Jesus as a local boy and struggled to accept his message
  • Sometimes people closest to us have trouble seeing what God is doing through us
  • Jesus continued his mission even when people rejected him
  • God's love and message are for everyone, not just certain people

Background

This passage shows Jesus returning to Nazareth after beginning his ministry. He reads from Isaiah in the synagogue and announces that he is fulfilling this prophecy. The hometown crowd initially marvels but then turns hostile when Jesus implies that God's salvation extends beyond Israel, citing examples of Elijah helping a foreign widow and Elisha healing Naaman the Syrian. Their rejection foreshadows the pattern of Jesus being rejected by his own people while Gentiles receive him. The crowd's attempt to throw Jesus off a cliff demonstrates the violent opposition he would face. For children, emphasize that Jesus shared good news about God's love, but some people did not want to listen, and Jesus kept going anyway. Set aside the theological complexities about Israel and the Gentiles, and the violence of the attempted murder.

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 share your good news with everyone. Help us to listen with open hearts and to share your love with others, even when it is hard. 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 tried to tell someone something exciting or important, but they did not want to listen to you?

Example: One time I wanted to show my big brother my picture I made at school, but he said he was too busy playing his game and did not even look at it.

Bridge to the reading: It can feel sad when people do not want to hear what we have to say, especially when it is something really good. In today's reading, Jesus goes back to his hometown to share wonderful news from God, but the people there did not want to listen to him either.

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 share his message in today's reading?

    Example: Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth, which was the town where he grew up as a little boy with his family.

  2. How did the people feel about Jesus at first, and then how did their feelings change?

    Example: At first the people were amazed and thought what he said was nice, but then they got really angry at him and did not believe him.

  3. What did the angry people try to do to Jesus?

    Example: The angry people took Jesus to the edge of a cliff on a hill and they wanted to push him off of it.

  4. Why do you think the people had such a hard time believing Jesus was special?

    Example: I think they remembered Jesus when he was just a little kid like them, so they thought he was just a regular person and not someone special from God.

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 Jesus felt when the people in his own hometown did not want to believe him?

    Example: I think Jesus felt really sad because those were the people he knew his whole life and they did not want to listen to him at all.

  2. What can you do when someone does not want to hear something good you are trying to share with them?

    Example: I can keep being kind to them anyway and maybe try again later, or I can find someone else who wants to hear what I have to say.

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

    Example: I could tell my little sister that God loves her very much, or I could say a prayer with my mom before bedtime together.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus went back to his hometown to share wonderful news about God's love. The people who knew him since he was small did not want to believe him and got very angry. But Jesus did not give up. He kept sharing God's good news with everyone. We can be brave like Jesus and keep sharing God's love, even when it is hard.

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 discouraged when others do not listen to them, that God will give them courage and hope, 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 about Jesus today. Help us to be brave like Jesus and to keep sharing your love with everyone we meet. Give us courage when things are hard. 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 at Home

Luke 4:21-30

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • Nazareth
  • synagogue
  • hometown
  • message
  • brave
  • listen
  • believe
  • courage
  • love
  • share
  • news

ChildrensLiturgy.org