Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Luke 9:18–24
Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?”

Making the Connection (Grades 1, 2, & 3)

Children at this age are familiar with both giving and receiving nicknames. Some nicknames express endearment, and others say something about a particular quality the person possesses. Peter calls Jesus by a descriptive name to express what he has come to believe about him.

Materials needed

• drawing paper
• crayons

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Give some examples of nicknames, such as “Cookie,” “Buddy,” “Sweet pea.” Ask volunteers to share their own nicknames or those of someone they know.

2. Explain that nicknames often describe some aspect or characteristic of a person. For example, a boy called Jet might be a fast runner.

3. Say: As I read this Sunday’s Gospel, listen for the name that Peter uses for Jesus.

4. Read aloud Luke 9:18–24.

5. Ask: What does Peter call Jesus? (the Messiah of God) Explain that Messiah means “anointed with oil.” Say: Peter knew that Jesus was the Anointed One sent by God to save his people.

6. Discuss with the children that Jesus wants everyone to follow him and be his disciple. Ask: What can you do to show that you follow Jesus?

7. Distribute paper and crayons. Invite children to draw a picture of something they can do to show they are a disciple of Jesus.

8. Invite volunteers to share their pictures.

9. Conclude by praying together the Sign of the Cross.

Gospel Reading
Luke 9:18–24
Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?”

Making the Connection (Grades 4, 5, & 6)

When we want to learn a skill like playing the guitar or learning a new sport, it’s helpful to spend time with someone who already does it well. Jesus invites us to spend time with him so that we will learn how to be good disciples.

Materials needed

• drawing paper
• crayons or markers

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask volunteers to name a person who has taught them something important, such as a teacher, coach, or Scout leader. Invite them to share what they learned and what why it is important to them.

2. Explain that a disciple is a person who learns from a master teacher. The Christian disciple accepts Jesus’ message and shares his mission, his suffering, and his joys.

3. Say: In this Sunday’s Gospel listen carefully to what Jesus instructs his disciples to do.

4. Invite a volunteer to read aloud today’s Gospel, Luke 9:18–24.

5. Ask: What did Jesus mean when he said that his followers must take up their cross every day? What crosses do disciples your age carry? (Obeying parents and teachers; helping at home when you would rather be with friends)

6. Distribute paper and crayons. Ask the children to draw a picture of themselves as a disciple of Jesus carrying their crosses.

7. Invite volunteers to share their pictures.

8. Have the children take their artwork home and display it in a place that will remind them to take up their crosses each day.

9. Conclude by praying together the Sign of the Cross.

Gospel Reading
Luke 9:18–24
Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?”

Making the Connection (Grades 7 & 8)

It’s easy to think we know someone because of what we’ve heard from others. That impression often changes when we get to know the person ourselves. As our personal relationship with Jesus grows, so does our knowledge of him.

Materials needed

• two signs, each with the name of a famous person that the young people will recognize
• tape
• slips of paper, one per student
• pencils

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask for two volunteers and tape one sign on the back of each.

2. Have the first volunteer turn his or her back so that the group can see who he or she is. Then allow the volunteer to ask questions of the group until he or she guesses correctly the name on the sign. Do the same with the second volunteer.

3. Tell the young people that in this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples play a version of this game. Jesus asks his disciples who others say he is. After they answer, he asks them who they themselves say he is.

4. Say: Listen carefully to hear the difference in the answers.

5. Invite a volunteer to read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 9:18–24.

6. Form the young people into small groups. Ask: How are the answers of those who don’t know Jesus well different from Peter’s answer? Invite those within the groups to share their ideas among themselves.

7. Invite one person from each group to share the group’s answer aloud.

8. Allow time for a few minutes of silent reflection. Ask: What would you say if Jesus asked you the same question he asked his disciples?

9. Distribute slips of paper and have the students write their answers.

10. End with a brief prayer service where the young people place their slips of paper on the prayer table.

Gospel Reading
Luke 9:18–24
Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?”

Family Connection

Self-sacrifice is part and parcel of being a family. Parents and children are all called upon from time to time to change or give up their own plans or desires to accommodate those of someone else. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that it will be no different for those who belong to his family. “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.”

As a family, discuss ways that parents and children make sacrifices for one another. Share some recent examples, expressing what the experiences were like for each person involved. Then read aloud this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 9:18–24. Talk about what the disciples sacrificed in order to follow Jesus and what they received as a result.

Conclude by marking one another’s foreheads with a cross as a way to express each person’s commitment to take up his or her cross every day to follow Jesus.