Theme: Know God properly — He is good and generous.
Readings: Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31 • 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 • Matthew 25:14–30
Main Message: God gives us everything first. When we know how good He is, we trust Him and use His gifts well.
1. Welcome & Gathering
Gather the children warmly.
Make the Sign of the Cross together.
Leader:
“Good morning, everyone.
Today Jesus tells us about a master who gives his servants something enormously valuable.
Two servants use what they are given.
One servant hides it in the ground.
And Jesus teaches us something very important:
how we think about God changes how we live.”
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus,
help us to know how good You are.
Thank You for all You give us.
Help us to trust You,
to use Your gifts well,
and to grow closer to You.
Amen.
2. Setting the Scene
Ask:
“Have you ever been given a really lovely present?”
“What would happen if you never opened it?”
“Would the person who gave it to you be pleased if you buried it in the garden?”
Allow answers.
Say:
“That sounds a bit silly.
But today Jesus tells us about a man who did almost exactly that.”
3. Gospel – Simplified
Leader:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Children:
Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus told this story.
A rich man was going on a journey.
Before he left, he called his servants and trusted them with his money.
To one servant he gave five talents.
To another he gave two.
To another he gave one.
A talent was a huge amount of money.
The servant with five talents used them well and gained five more.
The servant with two gained two more.
But the servant with one talent was afraid.
He dug a hole and buried the money.
After a long time the master returned.
The first servant brought back what he had been given and what he had gained.
The master said:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The second servant did the same.
Again the master said:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Then the third servant came.
He said:
“I was afraid of you, so I hid your money in the ground.”
The master was unhappy.
The servant had been given something valuable, but he had done nothing with it.
Jesus teaches us that God gives us good things and wants those gifts to bear good fruit.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Children:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Short Homily for Children
Ask:
“Which servant had the biggest problem?”
The third servant.
Ask:
“Why did he bury the money?”
Because he was afraid.
Say:
“That is really important.
The third servant thought his master was horrible.
He says:
‘I knew you were a hard man.’
But look at what the master had actually done.
He had trusted the servant with a fortune.
The servant had the wrong idea about his master.
And sometimes people can have the wrong idea about God too.
They might think:
‘God is always waiting for me to do something wrong.’
Or:
‘God does not really care about me.’
But Jesus shows us something different.
God is good.
God gives first.
He gives us life.
He gives us people who love us.
He gives us the Catholic faith.
He gives us His grace.
He forgives us when we are sorry.
He gives us Jesus.
God is wonderfully generous.
And when we know that, we do not need to hide from Him.
We can trust Him.”
Something Important About the “Talents”
Say:
“Today the word ‘talent’ usually means something you are good at.
Perhaps singing.
Drawing.
Football.
Making things.
But in Jesus’ story a talent meant a huge amount of money.
So Jesus is not simply saying:
‘Use your special abilities.’
He is saying:
‘Look how much God has entrusted to you.’”
Ask:
“What has God given us?”
Take a few answers.
Then add:
“Our life.
Our faith.
Our family.
Our time.
Chances to be kind.
Chances to pray.
Chances to help.
God gives us good things so that something good can grow from them.”
5. The First Reading – Fear of the Lord
Say:
“In the first reading we hear about a woman who fears the Lord.
Does that mean she spends all day frightened of God?”
Children:
No!
Explain:
“To fear the Lord means to know that God is great and holy, to love Him, and to want to please Him.
And look what happens.
She opens her hands to the poor.
Knowing God makes her generous.
The servant in the Gospel is frightened and closes everything away.
The good woman loves God and opens her hands.
That is a very good way to remember it.”
Ask the children to hold their hands closed.
Say:
“Afraid and hiding.”
Then ask them to open their hands.
Say:
“Knowing God and giving.”
Repeat together:
“God is good. I can trust Him.”
6. Saint Paul – Stay Awake
Say:
“Saint Paul tells us today:
Stay awake.
He does not mean that we must never go to bed!
He means:
Do not forget God.
Sometimes we can become very busy.
School.
Games.
Television.
Friends.
Homework.
And prayer gets forgotten.
Saint Paul says:
‘Stay awake inside.’
Remember who God is.
Remember how much He has given you.
Do not bury His gifts.”
7. Bringing It Into Our Lives
Ask:
“How can we use God’s gifts this week?”
Give simple examples:
Pray instead of forgetting God.
Help somebody at home.
Share with someone.
Tell the truth.
Say sorry when you have done wrong.
Forgive somebody.
Be kind to someone who is lonely.
Say:
“You do not have to do something enormous.
Most saints became holy by doing ordinary things with great love.
The important thing is not to bury what God gives you.”
8. The Penny Catechism
Say:
“There is an old Catholic catechism which asks:
Why did God make me?
And the answer begins:
God made me to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in the next.
Notice what comes first:
Know Him.
Because when we know how good God is, we can love Him.
When we love Him, we want to serve Him.
And Jesus tells us what waits at the end:
‘Come and share your Master’s happiness.’”
Say together:
Know God.
Love God.
Serve God.
Be happy with Him for ever.
9. Profession of Faith
Leader:
“Let us tell God what we believe.”
Do you believe in God the Father, who made us and gives us every good thing?
Children:
Yes, I believe.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again to save us?
Children:
Yes, I believe.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, who gives us grace and helps us become holy?
Children:
Yes, I believe.
10. Intercessions
Leader:
“God is good and generous. Let us bring Him our prayers.”
For the Church, that she may help people everywhere know how good God is.
Lord, hear us.
For our families, that we may use God’s gifts with love and generosity.
Lord, hear us.
For people who are frightened, lonely, sick or sad, that they may know God is close to them.
Lord, hear us.
For ourselves, that we may not bury the gifts God gives us, but use them to do good.
Lord, hear us.
For those who have died, that God may bring them into the happiness of Heaven.
Lord, hear us.
Let us ask Our Lady to help us know, love and serve God faithfully.
Hail Mary…
11. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
thank You for everything You give us.
Help us to know You better,
to love You more,
and to trust You.
Help us use Your gifts well
and let Your grace bear good fruit in our lives.
Bring us one day
into the happiness of Heaven.
Amen.
12. Activity Suggestions
Option A – Open Hands
Children close their hands.
Say:
“Do not bury God’s gifts.”
Children open their hands.
Say together:
“Thank You, God. Help me use Your gifts well.”
Option B – What Has God Given Me?
Ask each child to name one gift from God.
Examples:
Family.
Faith.
Friends.
Food.
Home.
Prayer.
Jesus.
After each answer say:
“Thank You, God.”
Option C – Use It or Bury It?
Say a situation.
“Someone is lonely and I go to speak to them.”
Use it!
“I know I should pray, but I keep saying later.”
Bury it!
“I share with someone.”
Use it!
“I refuse to forgive.”
Bury it!
Finish:
“Jesus, help me use Your gifts well.”
Memory Line
For younger children:
“God is good. I can trust Him.”
For older children:
“Know God, love God, serve God.”
Final line together:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
