Children’s Liturgy of the Word

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Theme – Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him

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Welcome & Gathering

(Gather the children together in a quiet space.
Place a Bible or image of Jesus where all can see.)

Leader:

“Today Jesus does something very important.

He doesn’t just talk to people.
He doesn’t just teach them.

Today,
Jesus calls people to follow Him.”

Pause.

“That means:
to walk with Him,
to listen to Him,
and to live the way He shows us.”

Make the Sign of the Cross together.

Leader:

“Lord Jesus,
You call us to follow You.
Help us to listen with open hearts
and to learn how to walk in Your light.
Amen.”

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Introducing the Theme

Ask the children:

“Have you ever been called by name?”

“How does it feel when someone calls you
and wants you to come?”

Allow a few answers.

Say:

“In today’s Gospel,
Jesus calls people who are very ordinary.

They are not famous.
They are not teachers.
They are working people.”

“What kind of work do you think they are doing?”

(Fishing.)

“Yes.
They are fishermen.
They are busy.
They are doing their normal jobs.”

“And Jesus comes to them and says something very short,
but very important.”

Pause.

“Follow me.”

Explain:

“That means:
Leave what you are doing.
Come with me.
Trust me.”

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The Gospel (Simplified – Matthew 4:18–22)

(Read slowly and clearly.)

Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee.
He saw two brothers,
Simon, who was called Peter,
and his brother Andrew.

They were fishermen
throwing their nets into the sea.

Jesus said to them,
‘Follow me,
and I will teach you
how to bring people to God.’

Right away,
they left their nets
and followed Him.

Jesus went on a little further
and saw two more brothers,
James and John.

They were in a boat with their father,
mending their nets.

Jesus called them.
They left the boat,
left their father,
and followed Him.

Leader:
“The Gospel of the Lord.”

Children:
“Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Reflection and Discussion

Ask:

“What did Jesus say to the fishermen?”

(“Follow me.”)

Ask:

“What did they do?”

(They left their nets and followed.)

Say:

“They didn’t say:
‘Later.’
They didn’t say:
‘Maybe tomorrow.’
They didn’t say:
‘Let me think about it.’”

“They went straight away.”

Ask:

“Why do you think that was hard?”

Allow answers (leaving work, family, boat).

Say:

“The nets were important.
The boats were important.
Fishing was how they lived.”

“But Jesus was more important.”

Bring in the First Reading:

“In the first reading today,
the Bible says:

‘The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.’”

Ask:

“What is darkness like?”

(scary, hard to see, lonely)

Say:

“Jesus is the light.

When we follow Him,
He helps us see the right way.
He helps us choose good.
He helps us not feel lost.”

Bring in the Second Reading simply:

“St Paul also tells the Church
to stop arguing
and to stay together.”

“Following Jesus means:
being kind,
not fighting,
and helping each other.”

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Activity – Leaving the Nets

(Use simple actions – no materials needed.)

Leader:

“Let’s pretend we are holding fishing nets.”

(Mime holding nets.)

“These nets stand for things
that can stop us following Jesus.”

Give examples slowly:

“Being unkind.”

“Not listening.”

“Refusing to forgive.”

“Always wanting our own way.”

Say:

“When Jesus calls us,
He asks us to leave those things behind.”

Leader:

“When I say ‘Follow me,’
we gently drop our nets on the floor
and take one step forward.”

Practice together.

Leader (clearly):

“Follow me.”

(Children drop imaginary nets and step forward.)

Say:

“That step means:
‘I want to try.’
‘I want to follow Jesus.’”

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Living the Gospel This Week

Ask:

“How can we follow Jesus this week?”

Offer concrete examples:

By being kind at home
By sharing
By saying sorry
By telling the truth
By praying

Say:

“Following Jesus does not mean being perfect.

It means trying again.
It means choosing the light
instead of darkness.”

Say clearly:

“Every time we choose love,
we are following Jesus.”

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Prayer

(Invite the children to close their eyes.)

Leader:

“Jesus,
You call each of us by name.
Help us to hear Your voice.
Help us to leave behind
what is not good.
Help us to walk in Your light
and follow You every day.
Amen.”

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Sending Back

Leader:

“Today Jesus said,
‘Follow me.’

This week,
listen for His voice
in your heart.”

“When we go back to Mass,
we are walking with Jesus together.”

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Return the children to the assembly quietly.