Page 13 - Good News - Program Preview

October 15, 2023 • 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday Readings: Isaiah 25:6–10a; Philippians 4:12–14,19–20; Matthew 22:1–14
Sunday Gospel Background
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells about a king who keeps inviting guests to his son’s wedding feast until he fills the hall. Matthew dwells on the fate of the guests who refuse the king’s invitation. Good News stresses instead the desire of the king to share his happiness with everyone around him.
Share Experiences
Check off the boxes as you complete each part of the lesson.
Pray together “Jesus, you invite us to be part of your family through our Baptism. Thank you for inviting us to your special feast—the Mass and Holy Communion. Help us to always say yes to your invitations. Amen.”
Cover Activity (page 1) Have your child identify the three party pictures on the cover. Ask: What’s your favorite thing to do at a party? Read aloud the directions and have your child complete the activity, imagining a party and what guests can do and eat. Ask: How does it feel to be invited? How does it feel to be left out?
Story l Who Can Belong? (page 2) Ask if your child recognizes the symbol next to the Know question. It’s the emblem for the Cub Scouts of America. Read the story aloud to your child. When finished, help your child retell the story. Ask: Why do you think Brayden acts the way he does?
Discuss the story using the Know question. Affirm your child’s answers. This discussion prepares us for the Gospel. Discover Gospel and Doctrine
Sunday Gospel l The Wedding Feast (page 3) Explain that Sunday’s Gospel is a story of a king who invites people to a party. Invite your child to listen to how people respond to the invitation. Divide up the roles of Jesus, King, Messengers, Shopkeeper, Farmer and Others between you and your child. Proclaim the Gospel together by reading aloud these speaking parts. After you are finished, take a moment to reflect silently together.
Discuss the Gospel story using the Know questions. Help your child understand that our loving God, like the king, will keep inviting us over and over. God wants us to be part of Jesus’ feast—the Eucharist here on earth and at God’s table in Heaven.
Catholic Faith Word l Eucharist (page 4) Read aloud the definition. Explain that Eucharist can mean both Holy Communion and the Mass. Emphasize that the bread and wine really become Jesus’ Body and Blood.
Connecting Gospel and Doctrine (page 4) Read aloud the paragraph about God inviting his people. Emphasize that participating in Jesus’feast of the Eucharist helps us get to Heaven, where we will sit at God’s table.
Open the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbook to page 20. Read the page together. Ask your child to think of a family meal that was especially enjoyable recently. Talk about how your family meals can reflect the Mass—we gather together, remember and share stories, give thanks, share a meal, and leave the meal nourished in body and spirit. Ask: What is a special family meal we share in the fall? Thanksgiving. Explain that the word Eucharist means”thanksgiving.”We gather to give thanks to God at every Mass. Read page 22 together to learn more about the Eucharist.
Once you have completed this section of the lesson, close the handbook and return to Good News, page 4.
Unit 1: We Are the Church l TG1-7