Children's Liturgy Guide

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C · Ordinary Time

The Soldier Who Trusted Jesus

Reading: Luke 7:1-10

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

A Roman soldier asked Jesus to heal his sick servant. The soldier believed so strongly in Jesus that he said Jesus did not even need to come to his house. Jesus could just say the word and the servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed by the soldier's great faith.

Key Points

  • The centurion showed humble trust in Jesus by saying he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home
  • Faith means believing Jesus can do what He says, even when we cannot see it happen
  • Jesus praised the centurion's faith as greater than anyone else He had met
  • We can trust Jesus to hear us and help us, even from far away

Background

The centurion was a Roman military officer, a Gentile who would have been considered an outsider to the Jewish community. Yet he demonstrates extraordinary faith in Jesus' authority. He understood that just as his soldiers obeyed his commands, sickness would obey Jesus' word. This passage emphasizes that faith transcends cultural and religious boundaries, and that humble trust in Jesus' power is what He desires. The centurion's words, 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,' are echoed in the Mass before Communion. For children, emphasize the simple, trusting belief that Jesus can help us when we ask, and that we do not need to see Jesus with our eyes to know He hears us. Set aside the historical tensions between Jews and Gentiles.

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 always listening when we talk to You. Help us to trust You the way the soldier in today's story trusted You, knowing that You hear us and love us. 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 asked someone you really trust to help you with something important, even when you could not see them do it?

Example: One time I was sick and my mom called the doctor on the phone. I could not see the doctor, but I trusted that my mom would tell me what to do and I would feel better.

Bridge to the reading: You trusted someone to help you even when you could not watch them do it. In today's reading, we will hear about a soldier who trusted Jesus so much that he knew Jesus could heal his servant without even coming to his house.

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 came to ask Jesus for help in this story?

    Example: A soldier, like a captain, came to ask Jesus for help because his servant was very sick and might die.

  2. What did the soldier say about Jesus coming to his house?

    Example: The soldier said he was not good enough for Jesus to come inside his house, but Jesus could just say the word and his servant would be healed.

  3. How did Jesus feel when He heard what the soldier said?

    Example: Jesus was amazed and surprised. He said He had never seen anyone with such great faith, not even in all of Israel.

  4. Why do you think the soldier believed Jesus could heal from far away?

    Example: The soldier knew Jesus was very powerful. He believed Jesus' words were so strong that they could make the sick servant better without Jesus even being there.

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 to know that Jesus can hear you even when you cannot see Him?

    Example: It feels good and safe because I know Jesus is always listening to me, like when I pray at night in my room by myself.

  2. What could you do when a friend or someone in your family is sick or sad?

    Example: I could pray to Jesus and ask Him to help them feel better, because I know Jesus hears my prayers and cares about them.

  3. This week, when is a time you could trust Jesus to help you even if you feel a little scared?

    Example: Maybe if I have to do something hard at school like a test, I could ask Jesus to help me be brave and do my best.

Recap

Today we heard about a soldier who asked Jesus to heal his sick servant. The soldier trusted Jesus so much that he said Jesus did not even need to come to his house. He believed that if Jesus just said the word, the servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed by the soldier's great faith. We can trust Jesus like that too, knowing He always hears us and helps us.

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 who are sick and waiting for help, that they may feel God's love and healing, 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.

Right before we receive Communion, we say words very similar to what the soldier said: 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.' We are like the soldier, humbly asking Jesus to come to us.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank You, Jesus, for listening to us when we pray. Help us to have faith like the soldier, trusting that You hear us and love us always. 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

The Soldier Who Trusted Jesus

Luke 7:1-10

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • soldier
  • servant
  • heal
  • faith
  • trust
  • believe
  • pray
  • word
  • amazed
  • help

ChildrensLiturgy.org