Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time — Year A
Theme: Turning Our “No” Into “Yes”
Gospel: Matthew 21:28–32
Main Message
Sometimes we say no to God by doing something wrong.
But Jesus gives us hope.
We can change.
We can say sorry.
We can turn back to God.
What matters is not only saying, “Yes, Lord,” but actually trying to do what God asks.
1. Welcome and Gathering
Leader:
Good morning, everyone.
Today Jesus tells us about two sons.
Their father asks both of them to do something.
One says:
“No.”
But later he changes his mind and does it.
The other says:
“Yes.”
But then he does not do it.
Jesus is going to teach us that our actions matter.
And He is also going to teach us something very hopeful:
if we have done wrong, we can change and come back to God.
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 loving us.
Help us to listen to Your Word.
When we do wrong,
help us to say sorry.
When You ask us to do what is good,
help us to say yes.
Change our hearts
and help us follow You.
Amen.
2. Opening Conversation
Ask:
Have you ever been asked to tidy up?
Have you ever said:
“Yes!”
and then forgotten?
Or perhaps said:
“No!”
and then changed your mind?
Allow simple answers.
Then say:
Jesus knows that sometimes we get things wrong.
But He wants us to change.
That is called repentance.
Repentance means turning away from what is wrong and turning back to God.
3. Gospel — Simplified
Jesus told this story.
A father had two sons.
He went to the first son and said:
“Son, go and work in the vineyard today.”
The son answered:
“I will not.”
But later he was sorry.
He changed his mind.
And he went to work.
Then the father went to the second son.
He said:
“Son, go and work in the vineyard today.”
The second son answered:
“Yes, sir.”
But he did not go.
Jesus asked:
“Which son did what his father wanted?”
The people answered:
“The first.”
Jesus was teaching that it is not enough simply to say good things.
God wants us really to follow Him.
And if we have done wrong, we can repent and change.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Children:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The First Son Changes
The first son begins badly.
He says:
“No.”
But that is not the end of the story.
He changes his mind.
He gets up.
He goes.
That is very important.
Sometimes we do wrong.
Perhaps we tell a lie.
Perhaps we are unkind.
Perhaps we refuse to obey.
But Jesus does not say:
“You did wrong once, so you can never change.”
Jesus says:
Come back.
That is one of the beautiful things about being Catholic.
God’s grace helps us begin again.
5. Built-In Activity 1 — No to Yes
Ask the children to shake their heads and say:
“No!”
Then say:
Now imagine we realise we were wrong.
Put your hand on your heart.
Say:
“I am sorry.”
Then nod and say:
“Yes, Jesus.”
Repeat:
No — I am sorry — Yes, Jesus.
Explain:
That is what repentance looks like.
We turn around and come back to God.
6. The First Reading — We Can Turn Around
In the First Reading, God says that if somebody turns away from doing wrong and begins doing what is right, that person can live.
That means our mistakes do not have to decide our whole future.
Imagine walking the wrong way down a path.
When you notice, do you keep going the wrong way?
No.
You turn around.
That is what conversion means.
Turning back towards God.
7. Built-In Activity 2 — Turn Around
Ask the children to face away from a crucifix or picture of Jesus.
Say:
Sometimes sin means turning away from God.
Now say:
“Jesus calls us back.”
Children turn around and face Jesus.
Say together:
“Jesus, help me come back to You.”
8. The Second Son Says Yes — But Does Not Go
The second son sounds very good.
He says:
“Yes, sir.”
But he does nothing.
Jesus teaches us that words are not enough.
Suppose Mum says:
“Please put your toys away.”
You say:
“Yes, Mum!”
But you keep playing.
Did you really obey?
No.
The same is true with God.
We can say:
“I love Jesus.”
But then we must try to live like someone who loves Him.
9. Built-In Activity 3 — Say It, Do It
Leader:
Jesus says: Pray.
Children:
I will pray!
Leader:
Jesus says: Tell the truth.
Children:
I will tell the truth!
Leader:
Jesus says: Forgive.
Children:
I will forgive!
Leader:
Jesus says: Love one another.
Children:
I will love!
Then say:
We ask Jesus to help our actions match our words.
10. Confession — A New Beginning
Sometimes we really do sin.
Jesus has given His Church a wonderful gift:
the Sacrament of Confession.
When we are old enough, we tell the priest honestly what we have done wrong.
We say we are sorry.
The priest gives absolution.
And Jesus forgives us.
That is not pretending the wrong thing never happened.
It is something better.
Jesus gives us grace to begin again.
Like the first son, we can change direction.
11. Saint Paul — Learn the Mind of Jesus
Saint Paul says today:
“Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus.”
That means:
Learn to think and love like Jesus.
Jesus always wanted to do the Father’s will.
He obeyed the Father perfectly.
Even when it was difficult.
So the Christian life is learning to say:
“Yes, Father.”
Not just with our mouths.
With our lives.
12. Built-In Activity 4 — Jesus Said Yes
Leader:
Did Jesus love the Father?
Children:
Yes!
Did Jesus obey the Father?
Yes!
Did Jesus give Himself for us?
Yes!
Does Jesus help us say yes to God?
Yes!
Say together:
“Jesus, help me say yes to God.”
13. A Simple Story
Imagine Daniel is playing.
Dad says:
“Daniel, please put your shoes away.”
Daniel says:
“No!”
Then he sees Dad carrying lots of bags.
Daniel thinks:
“That was wrong.”
He goes back.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
Then he puts the shoes away and helps with the bags.
Daniel began with no.
But his no was not the end.
He changed.
That is much better than saying:
“Yes, Dad!”
and doing nothing.
Jesus wants hearts that really turn towards Him.
14. What Does God Ask Us to Do?
God does not usually ask children to do enormous things.
Often His will is found in small things.
Telling the truth.
Obeying parents.
Being kind.
Praying.
Coming to Mass.
Sharing.
Saying sorry.
Forgiving.
These small yeses teach us how to belong to God.
15. Living the Gospel This Week
This week remember:
If you do something wrong, do not give up.
Say sorry.
Turn back.
Try again.
And each morning you could pray:
“Jesus, help me say yes to You today.”
16. Quiet Prayer
Ask the children to become still.
Leader:
Close your eyes.
Think of Jesus looking at you with love.
Maybe there is something you need to say sorry for.
Tell Jesus quietly:
“Jesus, I am sorry.”
Pause.
Now say:
“Jesus, help me change.”
Pause.
“Jesus, help me say yes to You.”
Pause.
“Jesus, keep me close to You.”
Amen.
17. Children’s Intercessions
Leader:
God our Father always wants to bring us closer to Him. Let us pray.
For the Church, that she may help people turn away from sin and follow Jesus.
Lord, hear us.
For Pope Leo, Bishop Patrick, our priests and deacons, that they may teach us clearly how to follow Christ.
Lord, hear us.
For our families, that our homes may be places where we learn to obey, forgive and pray.
Lord, hear us.
For children who have done something wrong and are frightened to say sorry, that Jesus may give them courage.
Lord, hear us.
For people who have stopped coming to Mass or praying, that they may hear Jesus calling them back.
Lord, hear us.
For anyone who is sick, lonely or sad, that Jesus may comfort them.
Lord, hear us.
For those who have died, that God may forgive them and bring them into Heaven.
Lord, hear us.
Let us ask Our Lady, who said a perfect yes to God, to pray with us.
Hail Mary…
18. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
thank You that we can always come back to You.
When we do wrong,
help us to repent.
When we say yes to You,
help us really to mean it.
Give us obedient hearts.
Help us to love the Father’s will
and follow You every day.
Amen.
19. Sending Back to Mass
Today we heard about two sons.
One said:
No.
But then he changed and obeyed.
The other said:
Yes.
But did nothing.
Jesus teaches us:
Do not only say yes. Live your yes.
As we return to Mass, remember that Jesus Himself gave the Father a perfect yes.
He gave Himself for us.
And in the Holy Eucharist He is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Let us go back quietly.
And let us say in our hearts:
“Jesus, help me say yes to You.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Additional Activities
Option A — Turn Around
Children face away from a crucifix.
Say:
“Sin turns us away.”
Then:
“Jesus calls us back.”
Children turn around.
Finish:
“Jesus, help me come back.”
Option B — Yes or No?
Leader gives situations.
“Mum asks you to help.”
Yes!
“A friend asks you to tell a lie.”
No!
“Jesus asks you to pray.”
Yes!
“Someone wants you to be cruel.”
No!
Finish:
We say yes to what is good and no to sin.
Option C — Action Matches Words
Leader says:
“I will pray.”
Children pretend to pray.
“I will help.”
Pretend to help.
“I will forgive.”
Open hands.
“I will listen to Jesus.”
Cup hands around ears.
Explain:
We try to do what we say.
Option D — The Road Back
Draw a road.
At one end write:
WRONG WAY
At the other:
JESUS
Move a toy figure the wrong way.
Then turn it around.
Say:
Repentance means turning back to God.
Option E — Sorry Practice
Teach the children to say:
I am sorry.
What I did was wrong.
Please forgive me.
Then:
Jesus helps me begin again.
Option F — Who Can Change?
Ask:
Can someone who has lied change?
Yes!
Can someone who has been unkind change?
Yes!
Can someone who stopped praying come back?
Yes!
Can Jesus help us change?
Yes!
Finish:
God’s grace can change hearts.
Option G — Mary’s Yes
Say:
When the angel told Mary God’s plan, Mary said yes.
Her yes was:
“Let it be to me according to your word.”
Ask the children to hold their hands open.
Say together:
“Mary, help me say yes to God.”
Option H — True or False?
If I do something wrong once, I can never change.
False.
Jesus wants us to repent.
True.
Saying yes but doing nothing is real obedience.
False.
God helps us begin again.
True.
Confession is a gift from Jesus.
True.
Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father.
True.
Option I — Draw the Two Sons
Draw:
One son saying NO, then walking to the vineyard.
One son saying YES, but staying still.
Ask:
Which one finally obeyed?
Write underneath:
“I will do God’s will.”
Option J — Echo Prayer
Leader:
Jesus, when I do wrong—
Children:
Help me come back.
Jesus, when I am stubborn—
Help me come back.
Jesus, when You ask me to do good—
Help me say yes.
Jesus, help me follow You—
Every day.
Amen.
Memory Lines
Ages 3–5
“Jesus helps me say yes.”
“Jesus helps me come back.”
Ages 6–8
“Which of the two did the will of his father?”
and:
“Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus.”
Final Memory Line
Repeat three times:
When I do wrong, I can come back.
Jesus helps me change.
I will say yes to God.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 