Children's Liturgy Guide

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

Good Fruit from Good Hearts

Reading: Luke 6:39-45

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 teaches us that what is inside our hearts shows on the outside, just like a tree shows what kind of fruit it grows. A good tree makes good fruit, and when we fill our hearts with good things, good words and actions come out of us.

Key Points

  • Jesus uses the image of a tree and its fruit to teach that our actions reveal what is in our hearts
  • We cannot give what we do not have inside us, like a thorn bush cannot produce figs
  • Jesus wants us to fill our hearts with good things so that goodness flows out in our words and actions
  • Before we help others see their faults, we need to look at our own hearts first

Background

This Gospel passage is part of Luke's Sermon on the Plain, parallel to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. Jesus uses vivid agricultural imagery that would have been immediately recognizable to his audience. The blind guide parable warns against spiritual pride and presumption. The speck and plank teaching addresses hypocrisy, while the tree and fruit metaphor reveals that external actions flow from internal disposition. The theological point is that moral transformation must begin within, through grace, not merely through external compliance. For children, emphasize the simple image of trees and fruit: good things inside our hearts lead to good words and kind actions outside. Set aside the more complex teaching about judging others and spiritual blindness, which requires moral development beyond a six-year-old's capacity.

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 Jesus, thank you for teaching us with stories we can understand. Help us to fill our hearts with love and goodness so that our words and actions are kind and helpful to 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 picked fruit from a tree or a plant, like an apple or a strawberry? What kind was it?

Example: Yes, I picked apples at a farm with my grandma and they were red and really yummy and sweet.

Bridge to the reading: You knew exactly what fruit you would get because of what kind of tree it was. In today's reading, Jesus tells us that people are like trees too, and what comes out of us shows what is growing inside our hearts.

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 say will happen if a blind person tries to guide another blind person?

    Example: Jesus says they will both fall into a pit because neither one of them can see where they are going.

  2. What two things does Jesus compare when he talks about eyes: something tiny and something very big?

    Example: Jesus talks about a tiny speck of dust in someone else's eye and a big wooden plank stuck in your own eye.

  3. What kind of fruit does Jesus say comes from a good tree?

    Example: Jesus says that a good tree always makes good fruit because it is healthy and good on the inside.

  4. Where does Jesus say that our good words come from?

    Example: Jesus says our good words come from all the good things that we have stored up inside our hearts.

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 someone says something kind and nice to you?

    Example: It makes me feel really happy and warm inside, like I am special and that person really cares about me.

  2. What is one good thing you could put in your heart, like a prayer or a kind thought about someone?

    Example: I could think about how much Jesus loves me every day, or I could think nice thoughts about my little brother.

  3. This week, what is one kind word you could say to a friend at school or at home?

    Example: I could tell my friend that I like playing with them and that they are really good at sharing toys with me.

Recap

Today we heard Jesus teach us that we are like trees. A good tree grows good fruit, and when we fill our hearts with good things, good words and kind actions come out of us. Jesus wants us to take care of what is inside our hearts so we can share goodness with everyone.

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 everywhere, that they may fill their hearts with goodness and share kind words with everyone they meet, 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 reminding us that good things in our hearts help us do good things for others. Help us this week to speak kind words and to share your love with everyone. 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

Good Fruit from Good Hearts

Luke 6:39-45

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.

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

Words to find

  • tree
  • fruit
  • heart
  • good
  • words
  • love
  • kind
  • Jesus
  • eyes
  • plank
  • grapes
  • figs

ChildrensLiturgy.org