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Children’s Liturgy of the Word

Divine Mercy Sunday
Theme: Jesus Comes with Peace and Mercy

1. Welcome & Gathering

Leader:

Today’s Gospel begins in a locked room.

The friends of Jesus are together.
But they are afraid.

They have seen Jesus die.
They do not know what will happen next.

Then something wonderful happens.

Jesus comes to them.

Not to frighten them.
Not to tell them off.

He comes to bring peace.

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.

Leader:

Jesus,
help us to listen to Your word.
Help us to trust in Your mercy.
Help us to know Your peace.
Amen.

2. Introducing the Theme

Ask:

Have you ever done something wrong
and felt nervous about admitting it?

Have you ever fallen out with someone
and wondered if they would forgive you?

Have you ever been afraid
and wished someone would come and say,
“It’s all right. I am here”?

That is what today’s Gospel is about.

It is about fear.
It is about forgiveness.
It is about Jesus coming close.

3. Gospel (Simplified – John 20:19–31)

Leader:

After Jesus rose from the dead,
His disciples were together in a locked room.

They were afraid.

Then Jesus came and stood among them.

He said,
“Peace be with you.”

Then He showed them His hands and His side.

The disciples were filled with joy
when they saw the Lord.

One of the disciples, Thomas, was not there.

When the others told him,
“We have seen the Lord,”
Thomas said,
“Unless I see Him for myself, I will not believe.”

A week later,
the disciples were together again,
and this time Thomas was with them.

Jesus came again and said,
“Peace be with you.”

Then He said to Thomas,
“Look at My hands.
Do not be afraid.
Believe.”

Thomas answered,
“My Lord and my God!”

Leader:

The Gospel of the Lord.

Children:

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Reflection

The disciples are hiding behind locked doors.

That means they are afraid.

But Jesus comes to them anyway.

That is very important.

Jesus does not wait outside
until they are brave.

He comes in.

And the first thing He says is:

“Peace be with you.”

That is what Jesus brings.

Peace.
Forgiveness.
Mercy.

Mercy means love when we need it most.

It means Jesus does not give up on us.

If we are frightened,
He comes.

If we have sinned,
He forgives.

If we are doubting,
He is patient.

That is why this Sunday is called Divine Mercy Sunday.

It is the Sunday when we remember in a special way
that Jesus is full of mercy.

Then there is Thomas.

Thomas was not there the first time.
He finds it hard to believe.

But Jesus does not give up on Thomas.

He comes back for him.

That matters too.

Jesus is patient with people who struggle.
He is patient with people who are slow to believe.
He is patient with us.

And Thomas says one of the most beautiful things in the Gospel:

“My Lord and my God!”

That is where the Gospel leads.

Not only to feeling better.
But to faith.

Not only to peace.
But to loving Jesus and trusting Him.

5. Quiet Prayer

Leader:

Let us be still for a moment.

Jesus,
come into the locked rooms of my heart.

Pause.

Jesus,
forgive me when I sin.

Pause.

Jesus,
help me to trust You.

Pause.

Jesus,
give me Your peace.

6. Living the Gospel This Week

Leader:

This week, we can live this Gospel by doing simple things.

We can say sorry.
We can forgive.
We can pray when we feel afraid.
We can remember the words of Jesus:

“Peace be with you.”

And we can say every day:

Jesus, I trust in You.

7. Closing Prayer

Leader:

Jesus,
You came to Your disciples with peace.
You forgave them.
You were patient with Thomas.
Be patient with us too.
Help us to trust in Your mercy
and to follow You with joy.
Amen.

8. Sending Back

Leader:

Today we have heard that Jesus comes with peace and mercy.

He comes to frightened hearts.
He comes to doubting hearts.
He comes to forgive.

So let us go back to Mass
and say with Thomas:

My Lord and my God.

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Optional Activities

Use one only, or at most two short ones, so the liturgy stays focused.

Option 1: Locked Door / Open Door

Best place to use: after Section 2: Introducing the Theme

Leader:

“When the disciples were afraid, what were the doors like?”
Children: Locked.

“What did Jesus do?”
Children: He came in.

Leader:

“Sometimes our hearts can feel locked too.”

Ask for examples:
When we are afraid
When we are sad
When we have done wrong
When we are angry

Then all say:

Jesus, come in.

Why it works: very simple, tied directly to the Gospel, and easy for younger children.

Option 2: Peace Be With You Response

Best place to use: after Section 4: Reflection

Leader:

“Jesus said…”
Children: Peace be with you.

Then say:

“When I am frightened…”
Children: Peace be with you.

“When I have sinned…”
Children: Peace be with you.

“When I am sad…”
Children: Peace be with you.

“When I find it hard to forgive…”
Children: Peace be with you.

Why it works: very memorable and prayerful, with no props needed.

Option 3: Thomas Activity

Best place to use: after the part of Section 4 about Thomas

Leader:

“Thomas found it hard to believe. Have you ever found something hard?”

Take a few answers.

Then say: “Jesus did not give up on Thomas.”

All repeat:

Jesus is patient with us.

Then say:

“When I struggle…”
Children: Jesus is patient with us.

“When I doubt…”
Children: Jesus is patient with us.

“When I need help to trust…”
Children: Jesus is patient with us.

Why it works: helps children see that doubt is met by Jesus with patience, not rejection.

Option 4: Mercy Actions

Best place to use: in place of or just before Section 6: Living the Gospel This Week

Leader: “Mercy means love when someone needs it most.”

Then ask children whether each one is Mercy or Not Mercy:

Helping someone who is upset
Forgiving someone
Laughing at someone who is sorry
Saying sorry yourself
Leaving someone out
Being kind to someone who is sad

Why it works: turns the Gospel into practical actions they can understand at once.

Option 5: Prayer Action

Best place to use: during Section 5: Quiet Prayer

Ask children to place:
one hand on their heart
one hand open in front of them

Then pray slowly:

“Jesus, open my heart.”
“Jesus, forgive my sins.”
“Jesus, give me peace.”
“Jesus, help me trust You.”

Why it works: very simple, very prayerful, and helps settle the group.

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