Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Primary

Primary Session
Luke 9:51-62

Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Dear God, thank you for all the people who love us
and show us how to make good choices.
Help us to live as your children.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.

Opening Life Reflection
The theme for today’s session is the gift of freedom. To begin, invite the children to draw a picture of themselves doing the right thing. Provide paper and crayons for each child. It may be helpful to offer some examples. Discuss:
• What helps you to do the right thing?
• How does God want us to live?
• What helps you to make choices?

Allow time for discussion. God created us with the freedom to make choices. When we make good and loving choices we are living as God’s children.

Listening to the Word of God
In the gospel Jesus gets ready to take a journey. Listen to find out where he wants to go.

Read Luke 9:51-62.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters
• Where does Jesus want to go?
• What happens on the way to Jerusalem?
• Who takes the journey with Jesus?
• What does Jesus tell his disciples?

Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the gospel.

In the gospel Jesus wants to go to Jerusalem. He sets out on the journey and comes to a Samaritan village. Jesus is not welcome there. Jesus’ friends are angry about what happened but Jesus leads them on to another village.

On the way, the disciples tell Jesus that they will always follow him. Jesus tells them that they too will suffer rejection and poverty. A true disciple must travel on a journey that helps to bring about the kingdom of God.

Questions for Deeper Reflection
• How does Jesus help us to make choices?
• What kind of choices did Jesus make?
• How can you choose to follow Jesus?

[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free
The Church teaches that God created us out of love with the gift of freedom so that we may choose to love God in return. The choice to sin and turn away from God is an abuse of the gift of freedom.

Along with the gift of freedom comes the responsibility to direct our actions toward good. God gave the gift of freedom to us so that we could learn and grow and make loving choices as children of God.

With the grace of God we are able to strive for what is right and good. We can do our best to seek what is good and avoid evil.

• How do you know if the choices you make are good?
• How do you know if the choices you make are not good?
• Why is it important to make good and loving choices?

The Gospel in Life
Take home the picture that you made at the beginning of the session and let it remind you to do the right thing.