Children's Liturgy Guide

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Love Even When It Is Hard

Reading: Luke 6:27-38

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 us to love everyone, even people who are not nice to us. He wants us to be kind and forgiving, just like God is kind and forgiving to us.

Key Points

  • Jesus asks us to love our enemies and pray for people who are unkind
  • We should treat others the way we want to be treated
  • When we forgive and give to others, God will be generous with us
  • Being merciful means showing kindness even when someone does not deserve it
  • God loves us even when we make mistakes, and we can love others the same way

Background

This passage from Luke's Sermon on the Plain presents Jesus' most challenging teaching: love of enemies. The Greek word for love here is agape, meaning unconditional, self-giving love that does not depend on the other person's worthiness. Jesus calls disciples beyond natural reciprocity to mirror the Father's mercy. The concluding image of a generous measure pressed down and overflowing connects our treatment of others to how God will treat us, not as transaction but as transformation into the Father's likeness. For children, emphasize the concrete actions Jesus names: being kind when someone is mean, sharing, and forgiving. Set aside the adult complexities of what 'love your enemies' means in situations of abuse or injustice. Focus on everyday moments when a child can choose kindness instead of getting even.

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 loving us so much, even when we make mistakes. Help us listen to what Jesus teaches us today about being kind and forgiving. 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 anyone ever been mean to you, and you wanted to be mean right back? What happened?

Example: One time my brother took my toy and I wanted to grab his toy and hide it, but my mom said to use my words instead.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes when people are not nice to us, we really want to be not nice back. In today's reading, Jesus teaches us something surprising about what to do when someone is mean to us.

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 does Jesus tell us to do for people who are not nice to us?

    Example: Jesus says we should love them and be kind to them and pray for them even when they are mean.

  2. Jesus talks about giving things away. What does He say will happen when we give to others?

    Example: Jesus says that when we give to others, God will give back to us and it will be a big overflowing amount.

  3. What does Jesus say about judging other people?

    Example: Jesus says we should not judge other people or be mean about what they do, and then God will not judge us either.

  4. Why do you think Jesus wants us to be kind to people who are not kind to us?

    Example: I think Jesus wants us to be like God because God is kind to everyone, even people who do bad things sometimes.

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 inside when you choose to be kind to someone who was mean to you?

    Example: It feels kind of hard at first but then I feel proud of myself and my heart feels better and not so angry anymore.

  2. If someone at school said something unkind about you, what is one kind thing you could do instead of being mean back?

    Example: I could walk away and play with someone else, or I could tell them that hurt my feelings and ask them to stop.

  3. This week, is there someone in your family you could forgive for something small, like taking your spot or not sharing?

    Example: I could forgive my sister when she does not let me play with her toys because Jesus wants me to forgive.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus teach us something really hard but really important. He said we should love everyone, even people who are not nice to us. We should be kind, share, and forgive, because that is how God treats us. When we forgive others and are generous, God will be generous with us 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 are having a hard time forgiving someone who hurt their feelings, that God will help their hearts be full of love, 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 pray the Our Father during Mass, we say 'forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.' This is exactly what Jesus teaches in today's reading: when we forgive others, God forgives us too.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank You, Jesus, for teaching us to love and forgive. Help us this week to be kind to everyone, even when it is hard. Give us brave and loving hearts like Yours. 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

Love Even When It Is Hard

Luke 6:27-38

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.

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

Words to find

  • love
  • kind
  • forgive
  • give
  • mercy
  • Jesus
  • pray
  • enemies
  • heart
  • share
  • bless

ChildrensLiturgy.org