Readings: Ezekiel 34:11–12, 15–17 • 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 28 • Matthew 25:31–46
Theme: Jesus Christ is our King.
Main Message: Jesus is not a king who sits far away from us. He is our Shepherd, our Saviour and our King. We show that He is our King by listening to Him and loving the people He puts in front of us.
1. Welcome & Gathering
Gather the children warmly.
Ask:
“What does a king wear?”
A crown.
“Where does a king sit?”
On a throne.
“What does a king do?”
He rules.
Say:
“Today we celebrate Christ the King.
Jesus does not wear a golden crown in today’s Gospel.
But He tells us something very important:
He is the King of everyone.”
Make the Sign of the Cross together.
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You are our King.
Help us to listen to You,
to follow You
and to love You.
Rule in our hearts
and lead us one day
to Your Kingdom in Heaven.
Amen.
2. Gospel – Simplified
Leader:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Children:
Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus said:
“One day the Son of Man will come in glory, with all His angels.
He will sit upon His throne as King.
All the peoples of the world will be gathered before Him.
The King will say to some:
‘Come into My Kingdom.
I was hungry and you gave Me food.
I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink.
I was a stranger and you welcomed Me.
I was sick and you visited Me.’
They will be surprised and ask:
‘Lord, when did we do those things for You?’
And the King will answer:
‘Whenever you did it for one of the least of My brothers and sisters, you did it for Me.’
Jesus teaches us that the way we love other people shows whether we really love Him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Children:
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Short Homily
Ask:
“If Jesus is King, where is His Kingdom?”
Allow answers.
Say:
“Jesus is King of Heaven and earth.
He is King of the whole universe.
But there is somewhere else He wants to rule.
Point to your heart.
Here.
Jesus wants to be King of our hearts.
And a king gives commands.
Jesus says:
Tell the truth.
Forgive.
Pray.
Help the poor.
Love one another.
So if Jesus is our King, we do not only say:
‘Jesus is King!’
We try to do what He says.”
Ask:
“Would it make much sense to say, ‘Jesus is my King,’ and then never listen to Him?”
No!
“That would be like having a king and ignoring everything he says.”
4. Jesus the Shepherd King
Say:
“In the first reading, God says something beautiful:
‘I myself will look after My sheep.’
Jesus is not a King who stays far away in a palace.
He is also the Good Shepherd.
A shepherd looks for sheep that have wandered away.
He cares for the weak.
He helps the injured.
He leads them home.
That is what Jesus does for us.
When we wander away through sin, Jesus calls us back.
When we are frightened, He stays with us.
When we are sorry, He forgives us.
Our King is also our Shepherd.”
Say together:
“Jesus, my King and Shepherd, lead me.”
5. Jesus Hides Himself
Say:
“Now here is the surprising part of today’s Gospel.
Jesus says that sometimes He comes to us almost in disguise.
Not wearing a crown.
Not sitting on a throne.
He might come to us in somebody who is hungry.
Someone who is lonely.
Someone who is sick.
Someone left out at school.
Someone who needs help.
And Jesus says:
‘What you did for them, you did for Me.’”
Ask:
“So if someone is lonely and I make them welcome, who am I also loving?”
Jesus.
“If someone needs help and I help them?”
Jesus.
“If somebody is sad and I sit with them?”
Jesus.
Say:
“A saint learns to recognise the King even when He is not wearing a crown.”
6. Built-In Activity – Spot the King
Say:
“I will give you a situation.
If you think Jesus wants us to help, point upwards and say:
‘Serve the King!’”
“A child is sitting alone.”
Serve the King!
“Someone is thirsty.”
Serve the King!
“Mum or Dad needs help carrying something.”
Serve the King!
“Someone is being laughed at.”
Serve the King!
“Someone is sick.”
Serve the King!
Finish:
“Jesus says:
‘You did it for Me.’”
7. Saint Paul – The King Who Defeats Death
Say:
“Saint Paul tells us something enormous today.
Jesus died.
But He rose again.
And Saint Paul says Jesus will defeat every enemy.
Even the last enemy:
death.
Every earthly king eventually dies.
But Jesus died and rose again.
That is why Jesus is a King like no other.
He is King even over death.
And those who belong to Him will rise too.
That is our Christian hope.
Jesus our King can lead us all the way to Heaven.”
8. Profession of Faith
Leader:
“Let us tell Jesus our King what we believe.”
Do you believe in God the Father, who made Heaven and earth?
Children:
Yes, I believe.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, our King, who died and rose again for us?
Children:
Yes, I believe.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, who helps us follow Jesus and love one another?
Children:
Yes, I believe.
9. Intercessions
Leader:
“Let us bring our prayers to Jesus Christ our King.”
For the Church, that she may always proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and King.
Lord, hear us.
For our families, that Jesus may rule our homes with His love and peace.
Lord, hear us.
For people who are hungry, lonely, sick or forgotten, that they may receive the help they need.
Lord, hear us.
For ourselves, that we may recognise Jesus in the people around us and serve Him with love.
Lord, hear us.
For those who have died, that Jesus may raise them to new life and welcome them into His Kingdom.
Lord, hear us.
Let us ask Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, to help us follow her Son faithfully.
Hail Mary…
10. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are our King.
Rule in our hearts.
Help us listen to You,
obey You
and recognise You in others.
Help us care for those in need
and remain close to You,
until one day
You bring us into Your Kingdom in Heaven.
Amen.
11. Activity Suggestions
Option A – Crown for Jesus
Draw a simple crown.
Inside it write or draw ways we can obey Jesus:
PRAY
FORGIVE
HELP
SHARE
TELL THE TRUTH
LOVE
Write underneath:
JESUS IS MY KING
Option B – Who Is the King?
Leader:
Who is our King?
Children:
Jesus!
Who is our Shepherd?
Jesus!
Who died and rose again?
Jesus!
Who is stronger than death?
Jesus!
Who leads us to Heaven?
Jesus!
Option C – The Hidden King
Ask:
“Where might we meet Jesus this week?”
Possible answers:
Someone lonely.
Someone sick.
Someone who needs help.
Someone left out.
Someone who needs forgiveness.
Finish:
“Whatever you did for them, you did for Me.”
Memory Line
For younger children:
“Jesus is my King.”
For older children:
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.”
Final line together:
Jesus is our King.
Jesus is our Shepherd.
Jesus leads us home.
