Followers

Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

Today we go back to Matthew’s Gospel as we return to Ordinary Time in the Liturgy. We hear how Jesus shows his love and care for the people. He shows his love by healing the sick and teaching the crowds about the love of God. Jesus wants his followers to continue his loving work on earth. So, he calls and names the apostles and instructs them as to the work he has called them to do. Jesus shares his mission to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven with his disciples more than two thousand years ago and today he shares it with us. 

So, how are we to evangelize? Today’s Gospel reading helps us to understand that first the workers are few but the harvest is plentiful. We are the workers, in our family lives, at our place of work or within our Parish community. We should be ready to give witness to our faith, to shine the light of Christ with our relatives, friends, and strangers. As a Church we are to continue Christ’s mission. Pope St John Paul II said, “Being a Christian has never been easy…. Following Christ demands the courage of radical choices, which often means going against the stream.” 

Matthew reports that Jesus commissions twelve apostles and he lists their names as do Mark and Luke in their Gospels. The word ‘apostle’ means “one who is sent.” They are sent by Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven through their actions and their words. Each one of us is an apostle for Jesus. In our family lives we are called to give loving witness to our children. Think of the many gifts each person in your family has and help point them out to each other. Provide good examples of faith, service, caring, and sensitivity realising that each of these gifts help to carry the Good News of God’s Kingdom into the world.

May our homes and Parishes be witnesses of joy. Reaching out to those in need, by doing this we are evangelizing, continuing Christ’s mission of love. 

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 9: 36-10:8)

 At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” 

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. Disciples are called to work together just as family members must work together. Pray together that your family will always work together, to love and support each other.  
  4. Have a “Love Giving” party. Have family members write down messages of love for each other or promises to perform a loving act. Have family members wrap the messages in brightly decorated gift boxes. Then, have a party and exchange gifts. And celebrate your family’s love, the gift that keeps giving. 
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from St Matthew (Mt 9:36-10:8)
    ii. a candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊 
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family. 

In the Gospel today we hear how Jesus felt very sad when he saw people who were worried and who were looking for help. He sent his disciples out to care for them and he asks us to carry out this work today.

coming soon.

  • We are followers of Jesus and so we are called to do what we can to help and love other people.
  • We are called to spread the Good News that the Kingdom of heaven is near.
  • Print the ‘helping hand’ template.
  • Pencil/Colours
  • Scissors/craft card/glue
templateDownload

One day Jesus was with his followers and there were crowds of people around him who were lost and helpless. It broke Jesus’ heart to see so many people who needed help. He said to his disciples “there are so many who need help, but there are not enough people who are willing to help them. Pray that the Lord will send workers to help them.” 

Jesus was telling his disciples how important it is to try and help others, especially those in need. 

After they finished praying Jesus called twelve of his followers to come to him. “Go, and heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. As you go, preach this message. ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near.’” This was a message of Good News, a message of love, which they were to spread to others, not just through what they said but also through their actions. Wow! That really is good news. Think about it. The Kingdom of heaven is not some faraway place but it’s here right now, we show this whenever we help others, whenever we show love and kindness to those around us. In our families and with our friends. We do not share Jesus’ message just through words (what we say) but more importantly through our actions (what we do). Jesus trusted his disciples to continue his mission, and because we are also his disciples, we are to carry on this mission too. Close your eyes and think of some people in your life with whom you will share Jesus’ love this week.

Now print the hand template, cut it out and stick it on the craft card. Write on the hand,

Happy hands are helping hands and helping hands are blest. So, I will use my hands this week to help those I love the best. Then sign your name at the bottom.

Now think of 5 people who you can help this week and especially how you can help your dad today on Father’s Day and write their names on each finger.

Listen to the song; Helping Hands.

Sign of the cross

Loving God, we thank you for your care for each one of us. Move us to reach out and help one another in whatever way we can, as we try to follow you faithfully every day. Today we also ask for special blessings on all Fathers throughout the world. Amen.

In today’s Gospel Jesus called the twelve apostles and sent them out as missionaries to continue the work God began in Jesus. They were to go out to the people and tell them the Good News that the Kingdom of heaven has come.

coming soon.

Even today we are sent by Jesus to be apostles, to proclaim that the Kingdom of heaven is near.

  • Newspaper template
  • Colours
  • Photo of you and your family/friends
templateDownload

Have you ever been sent on an errand? Maybe your mum or dad asked you to get something from upstairs such as their reading glasses, mobile or bed slippers as they forgot them. Maybe your teacher asked you to take something to another classroom or give out books or handouts to the children in your class. How did it make you feel to be given a job to do? Most probably you would feel proud to be given some responsibility, I know that I would try to do the job in the best way I can. 

In the Gospel today Jesus was with his followers and crowds of people, and he felt sad because some people needed help. Jesus calls and names the twelve apostles and he gives them a very important job to do. He sent them out to help people by curing the sick, raising the dead, and driving out unclean spirits. They were to continue the work he had started. Jesus also gave them rules to follow, they were not to take any money and they were to tell the people that the Kingdom of God was near, this was very special news. They would show this by the deeds they carried out. Do you know that the word ‘apostle’ means “one who is sent?” Even today we as followers of Jesus are apostles with a job to do. We are to tell others about the Good News of God’s Kingdom which is near. We do not have to go far away to do this. We are sent to bring Jesus’ love to our families, our schools and our friends by showing love and kindness through our actions. We are called to work together and pray together for the good of others. 

Now you may print the news paper template. Stick a picture of you and your family or friends and then think of how you can help people this week to show God’s love and act with compassion. Then write them on the template creating your own news article.   

Listen to the song, Every Move I Make.

Sign of the Cross

God, we are thankful that Jesus came to earth to show us how to live for you and how to care for others who need us. Help us to spread the Good News of your love to those we meet this week. We pray especially for all Fathers who celebrate Father’s Day today. Amen.   

Coming soon.

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.