Theme: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
Gospel: Matthew 14:22–33
Main Message
Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of the wind and sea. When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked across the water. When he became frightened, he began to sink. Whenever we are worried or afraid, we can call out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus hears us and stretches out His hand.
1. Welcome and Gathering
(Gather the children calmly.)
Leader:
Good morning, everyone.
Today I want you to imagine that you are in a small boat.
It is dark.
The wind is blowing.
The waves are getting higher.
The boat is rocking from side to side.
How would you feel?
(Allow answers.)
Would you feel safe?
Would you feel frightened?
What would you want someone to do?
In today’s Gospel, the disciples are caught in a storm. They are frightened, but then Jesus comes to them in a most amazing way.
Let us begin with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus,
thank You for bringing us together.
Help us to listen carefully to Your word.
When we are worried or frightened,
help us to remember that You are near.
Teach us to trust You
and to keep our eyes fixed upon You.
Amen.
2. Opening Conversation
Ask:
- Have you ever been caught in heavy rain?
- Have you ever heard very strong wind?
- What things sometimes make children feel worried?
- Who helps you when you are frightened?
- Can we speak to Jesus when we are afraid?
Allow answers.
Then say:
Sometimes our problems can feel like a storm.
We may be worried about school, our family, our friendships, our health or something that has happened.
Today Jesus teaches us that no storm is stronger than He is.
3. Gospel – Simplified
After feeding the great crowd, Jesus told His disciples to get into a boat and cross the lake.
Jesus went up the mountain by Himself to pray.
During the night, the wind became very strong. The waves beat against the boat, and the disciples were frightened.
Then Jesus came towards them, walking upon the water.
When the disciples saw Him, they were terrified.
But Jesus said:
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Peter answered:
“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
Jesus said:
“Come.”
Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk across the water towards Jesus.
But then Peter noticed the strong wind.
He became frightened and began to sink.
Peter cried out:
“Lord, save me!”
Immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.
Jesus said:
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When Jesus and Peter entered the boat, the wind stopped.
The disciples worshipped Jesus and said:
“Truly You are the Son of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Children:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Reflection
Jesus Went to Pray
Before the storm began, Jesus went up the mountain alone to pray.
Even Jesus made time to be quiet with His Father.
Prayer does not always need lots of words.
Sometimes we need to become quiet, remember that God is with us, and listen to Him.
The First Reading tells us about Elijah. There was a powerful wind, an earthquake and a fire. But God came to Elijah in a gentle whisper.
God is sometimes found, not in noise, but in silence.
Built-in Activity 1 – Loud or Quiet?
Ask the children to copy you.
Say loudly:
“The wind!”
Children make a blowing sound.
Say:
“The waves!”
Children move their hands like waves.
Say:
“The storm!”
Children pat their knees.
Then raise your hand and ask everyone to become completely silent.
After a few seconds, say quietly:
“God is here.”
Explain:
We need quiet moments so that we can pray and listen to God.
Jesus Came Through the Storm
The disciples were in the place where Jesus had sent them.
They had obeyed Him.
Yet they still faced a storm.
Following Jesus does not mean that nothing difficult will ever happen.
It means that we are never alone when difficulties come.
Jesus saw the disciples.
He knew that they were struggling.
He came towards them.
Jesus did not run away from the storm.
He walked across it.
The wind and the sea could not defeat Him because Jesus is the Son of God.
Built-in Activity 2 – Who Is Stronger?
Ask:
Which is stronger?
- A small child or a strong wind?
- A little boat or a great wave?
- Peter or the sea?
- The storm or Jesus?
Children answer:
Jesus!
Explain:
Nothing in creation is stronger than its Creator.
Jesus is Lord of the wind, the waves and the whole world.
“Do Not Be Afraid”
When the disciples saw Jesus, they did not recognise Him at first.
They thought they were seeing a ghost.
Jesus spoke to them:
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Jesus did not immediately remove the storm.
First, He told them that He was with them.
Sometimes Jesus does not remove a problem immediately.
But He always promises to remain close to us.
When we are worried, we can remember three things:
Jesus sees me.
Jesus is with me.
Jesus will help me.
Ask the children to repeat each sentence.
Peter Walks towards Jesus
Peter asked Jesus to call him across the water.
Jesus gave him one command:
“Come.”
Peter left the boat.
For as long as Peter trusted Jesus and walked towards Him, he stayed above the water.
But then Peter looked at the wind.
He forgot how powerful Jesus was.
He became frightened and began to sink.
The wind had been there before.
What changed?
Peter stopped looking towards Jesus and began looking only at the storm.
Built-in Activity 3 – Keep Your Eyes Fixed
Ask one child to stand at one end of the room.
The leader stands at the other end and holds up a picture of Jesus, a crucifix or a Bible.
Ask the child to walk slowly towards it while keeping their eyes fixed upon it.
Then ask:
What might distract us from Jesus?
Possible answers:
- Worry
- Anger
- Unkind friends
- Too much time on screens
- Forgetting to pray
- Choosing what is wrong
Explain:
Keeping our eyes on Jesus means remembering Him, listening to His teaching and trying to follow Him each day.
“Lord, Save Me!”
As Peter began to sink, he prayed a very short prayer:
“Lord, save me!”
It was only three words.
But Jesus heard him.
Peter did not have time for a long prayer.
He simply called upon Jesus with faith.
And what did Jesus do?
The Gospel says that Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him.
Jesus did not wait for Peter to become perfect.
He did not leave Peter beneath the water.
He reached out and saved him.
When we sin, become frightened or make a mistake, we should not hide from Jesus.
We should call out to Him.
Built-in Activity 4 – The Saving Hand
Ask every child to hold out one hand.
Say:
Imagine that you are Peter and you are beginning to sink.
What prayer do you say?
Children:
“Lord, save me!”
The leader stretches out a hand.
Explain:
Jesus is always ready to help us.
He reaches out to us through prayer, through His Church, through our families and especially through the Sacraments.
The Boat and the Church
The early Christians said that the boat is like the Church.
The sea is like the troubled world.
The wind and waves are the difficulties the Church faces.
Sometimes the Church seems small and the storm seems very great.
But the boat does not sink because Jesus is Lord.
He never abandons His Church.
When Jesus entered the boat, the disciples worshipped Him.
They said:
“Truly You are the Son of God.”
They had seen His power.
They now understood more clearly who He was.
Jesus was not only a teacher.
He was not only a miracle-worker.
He was the Son of God.
Living the Gospel This Week
This week, I will:
- Make time to be quiet with God.
- Pray when I feel worried.
- Say, “Lord, save me,” when I need help.
- Keep my eyes fixed upon Jesus.
- Help someone who is frightened or lonely.
- Trust that Jesus remains with His Church.
Quiet Prayer
Ask the children to close their eyes and become still.
Leader:
Think quietly of something that sometimes makes you worried.
You do not need to say it aloud.
Imagine placing that worry into the hands of Jesus.
Now say silently in your heart:
“Jesus, I trust You.”
Pause.
Lord Jesus,
sometimes I am worried.
Sometimes I look at my problems
and forget that You are near.
Help me to keep my eyes fixed upon You.
When I am afraid,
help me to hear Your voice:
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
When I begin to sink,
teach me to call out:
“Lord, save me!”
Amen.
Children’s Intercessions
Leader:
Jesus stretched out His hand to save Peter. Trusting in His love, let us bring our prayers to God our Father.
For the Church: that she may keep her eyes fixed upon Jesus and remain faithful during every storm.
Lord, hear us.
For the Pope, our bishop, priests and deacons: that they may help God’s people to trust Christ and listen to His voice.
Lord, hear us.
For countries suffering because of war, violence, storms or floods: that God may protect those in danger and bring them peace.
Lord, hear us.
For children and adults who are frightened, worried or lonely: that they may know that Jesus is close to them.
Lord, hear us.
For anyone whose faith has become weak: that, like Peter, they may call upon Jesus and take hold of His saving hand.
Lord, hear us.
For our families and our school: that we may make time for prayer, silence and kindness.
Lord, hear us.
For those who have died: that Jesus may bring them safely into the peace of Heaven.
Lord, hear us.
Let us ask Our Lady to pray with us:
Hail Mary…
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You are the Son of God
and Lord of the wind and sea.
Thank You for coming close to us
whenever we are frightened.
Help us to listen to Your voice,
to trust Your word
and to keep our eyes fixed upon You.
Stretch out Your hand
and lead us safely
through every difficulty.
Amen.
Sending Back
Today we learned that Jesus came to His disciples during the storm.
Peter walked across the water when he trusted Jesus. When he looked away and became frightened, he began to sink.
But Peter called out:
“Lord, save me!”
Jesus immediately stretched out His hand.
As you return to church, listen carefully for the prayers asking God to help His people. When Father holds up the Sacred Host at Mass, remember that the Lord of the wind and sea comes quietly to us in the Holy Eucharist.
Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus.
Listen to His voice:
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Additional Optional Activities
1. Build a Storm
Invite the children to create the sound of the storm.
- Rub hands together for light wind.
- Click fingers for rain.
- Pat knees for heavier rain.
- Stamp feet for thunder.
- Make wave movements with arms.
Then slowly return to complete silence.
Say:
The storm was noisy, but Jesus brought peace.
2. Walking on Water
Ask:
Can an ordinary person walk on water?
Why was Jesus able to do it?
Explain:
Jesus is truly human and truly God. He is Lord of creation. The wind and the sea obey Him.
3. Eyes on Jesus
Place a picture of Jesus or a crucifix where everyone can see it.
Ask children to look at it while you call out distractions:
- Toys
- Worries
- Screens
- Arguments
- Wanting to be popular
- Fear of making mistakes
The children answer each time:
“I will keep my eyes on Jesus.”
4. The Three-Word Prayer
Teach the children Peter’s prayer:
“Lord, save me!”
Ask when they might use it:
- When frightened
- When tempted to do wrong
- When worried about someone
- When they have sinned
- When they do not know what to do
Repeat it together three times.
5. Finish the Sentence
Leader says:
When I am frightened…
Children answer:
Jesus is with me.
When I begin to sink…
Jesus reaches for me.
When the storm is strong…
Jesus is stronger.
When Jesus calls me…
I will follow Him.
6. The Boat of the Church
Draw a simple boat.
Write THE CHURCH on it.
Ask the children to name people who belong in the boat:
- The Pope
- Bishops
- Priests
- Religious sisters and brothers
- Families
- Children
- The sick
- People of every nation
Draw a cross or write JESUS above the boat.
Explain:
Jesus never abandons His Church.
7. What Is the Storm?
Ask children to name things that can feel like storms:
- Falling out with a friend
- Being ill
- Worrying about school
- Trouble at home
- Feeling left out
- Hearing frightening news
After each example, say together:
“Jesus, help us to trust You.”
8. Saving Hand
Children work in pairs.
One child gently pretends to lose balance. The other offers a hand.
Explain that we must never pull or push.
Ask:
How can we stretch out a helping hand to someone?
Possible answers:
- Include them
- Listen to them
- Tell an adult if they are in danger
- Share
- Pray for them
- Offer encouragement
9. Do Not Be Afraid
Leader:
Jesus says—
Children:
“Do not be afraid!”
Leader:
Jesus is—
Children:
“The Son of God!”
Leader:
Jesus hears—
Children:
“My prayer!”
Leader:
Jesus stretches out—
Children:
“His saving hand!”
10. Gentle Whisper
Ask the children to sit completely still.
Whisper:
“Jesus is with you.”
Invite the children to whisper:
“Jesus, I trust You.”
Explain:
We do not always need loud voices or many words to pray. God hears even the quiet prayer of our hearts.
11. Step Out in Faith
Place paper “stepping stones” on the floor.
Write a word on each:
- Pray
- Listen
- Trust
- Obey
- Love
- Follow
As children step across them, everyone says:
“Keep your eyes on Jesus.”
12. Memory Verse
Repeat together three times:
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Then repeat:
“Lord, save me!”
Finish with:
“Truly You are the Son of God.”
13. This Week’s Challenge
Tick the things you will try this week:
□ Spend one quiet minute with Jesus each day.
□ Pray when I feel worried.
□ Help someone who is frightened or lonely.
□ Listen carefully during Mass.
□ Say, “Jesus, I trust You.”
□ Remember that Jesus is stronger than every storm.
14. Draw the Gospel
Ask children to draw:
- The boat
- The waves
- Peter walking towards Jesus
- Jesus stretching out His hand
- The disciples worshipping Jesus
Add the words:
“Lord, save me!”
or:
“Do not be afraid.”
15. Sink or Stand?
Read different choices.
Children crouch down for choices that make our faith weaker and stand tall for choices that help us trust Jesus.
Examples:
- Praying
- Being unkind
- Listening to the Gospel
- Refusing to forgive
- Coming to Mass
- Asking Jesus for help
- Following unkind friends
- Telling the truth
Explain:
Jesus gives us grace to stand firm in faith.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 