The Better Part: Weekly Sunday Gospel Reflections For Children
Weekly Sunday Gospel reflections for 3-6-year-olds, 6-9-year-olds, and 9-12-year-olds.
The Better Part
My name is Paula Rush. I am a catechist and formation leader with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an approach to faith formation for children (and adults, too, truth be told!) For four years, I have published weekly Gospel reflections for children for each of three age groups (thebetterpart.net). Switching gears now, I am making these reflections available as a podcast.
Each week, select the reflection suitable for the developmental age of your child. We listen first to the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, (or a portion of it if it is quite long). Then we take our time with the Word, moving through it slowly, wondering what it might mean.
Music in the background of the Word of God is called "Story of the Wind" by Whitesand: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBzSiR4iXlM
(Photo by Yannis H on Unsplash)
Episodes
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
6 min
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Gospel reflection for 3-6 year olds for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.
(Adults, once again, this is a difficult Gospel to share with little ones. There are frightening images. But if we strip the parable down, we arrive at the plan of God. It is not being unrealistic to ignore the exaggerated responses of both the people and the king with the child who is not yet ready to make moral choices. Instead, the plan of God answers the child's unspoken question: Who are you, God?)
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
10 min
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Gospel reflection for 6-9 year olds for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.
(Adults, here we are again with a difficult parable! For the 6-9 year old, who is beginning an exploration of the moral life, this reflection invites the child to consider the richness and value of the Kingdom of God. We ponder the question–how will we respond to the invitation–only obliquely at this age.)
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
13 min
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Gospel reflection for 9-12 year olds for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.
7 days ago
7 days ago
6 min
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Gospel reflection for 3-6 year olds for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.
(Adults, I don't mind saying that it was EXTREMELY difficult to find in this Sunday's Gospel the face of God that the youngest children need to see. But there towards the end, sandwiched between discussions of vineyards and fruit, is verse 44 about a stone. Perfect.)
7 days ago
7 days ago
12 min
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Gospel reflection for 6-9 year olds for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.
(Adults, the parable in this Sunday's Gospel is upsetting, to be followed by an even more upsetting one next week–yikes! This reflection acknowledges that the parable is upsetting, but encourages the children to reflect upon the ideal, on the Plan of God that is somewhat overshadowed by the behaviour of the tenants.)
Oct 2, 2026
Oct 2, 2026
11 min
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Gospel reflection for 9-12 year olds for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A.