Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary time

It-Tlettax-il Ħadd matul is-Sena

☀️For children from 8 to 11 years old to enjoy learning and pray.☀️

From 4 to 7 years old

1. Stop from what you are doing and calm down. In some quiet time, watch this video.

1. Oqgħod ftit fil-kwiet u ara dawn il-vidjo.

2. Enjoy doing this activity.

2. Ħu gost agħmel din l-attività

Story

There was once a man who compared his cross to that of others and thought that he was suffering far too much. So he turned to Jesus and said:

“Jesus, this cannot continue for much longer. My cross is too heavy, I cannot carry it anymore!”

And Jesus replied:

“Very well, my son. Look over there, can you see that door? Go, open it and place your cross inside that room. Then there is that other door, open it, in that room you will find many crosses, pick out any cross you wish.”

The man could not believe his luck! He did exactly what Jesus told him to do. He put his cross in one room, and he entered the other to make his choice. He wanted to be very careful in his choice, he did not want to end up worse off. In this room he saw many crosses of different sizes. He did not want a large one, so it took him quite some time, he kept going around, comparing and measuring. In the end, in one corner, he saw, what he thought was a cross, smaller than all the others. “That’s the one I want!” and he went to Jesus and told him about his choice.

Jesus smiled and he said: “Of course my son, take the cross you chose, but be aware that that is the same cross you just brought in!”

We need

§ Cut outs of different sized crosses, there should be more than there are members in the family

§ Pencils

§ A crucifix

We will learn that

§ We will encounter difficult times, the best way to live through this time is to put our hope in God

Activity

We ask: what are your thoughts about the story we just heard?

What are our crosses? Give time for everyone to speak. It could be that the children have fears and feel that the current situation of social distancing, the fact that they cannot meet their friends that they used to, is a heavy cross for them. Allow them enough time to express themselves. The adults likewise should take a turn to speak about their cross.

What did Jesus promise us?

Now, everyone chooses one among the crosses and writes upon it the troubles or difficulties they are currently facing. When everyone is ready, each takes another cross and writes upon it the crosses (or sufferings, problems) borne by particular people. It could be something specific such as an illness a family member is passing through, or something more generic, such as the sufferings of refugees, or of people living in poverty. All these crosses are subsequently placed at the foot of the crucifix. Jesus is not asking us anything greater than what he himself lived through. The promise he made, i.e. that when we turn to him, he will be with us, is true.

Prayer

Sign of the cross

We listen to, Footprints in the sand

Thank you Lord, you are always with us. Teach us to trust in you, give us faith so that we remember that we are always in your presence.