Use the following summaries and questions to help explain this month’s Gospels to your kids.

July 7 — Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:1-12,17-20: Jesus appointed 72 disciples and sent them, along with the apostles, into the various towns and villages. Jesus tells them to carry no money and rely on the hospitality of the people. If they are welcomed in peace, they are to stay. If they are not welcomed, Jesus tells them to leave.

• Why do you think Jesus sent the apostles/disciples out as two together?
• What did Jesus send the disciples out to do?
• How do you think the disciples felt about going without any money or possessions?
• If you only had a backpack for a trip, what would you take? Why would you choose these things?
• Think about a time you did a project with someone in your family or a friend. What would it have been like to do it alone? What did this person bring to the project? What did you bring?
• Who in today’s world brings God’s peace to others?
• Do you bring God’s peace to others? What might be one new way you could do that this week?

July 14 — Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:25-37: Jesus loved to tell stories. Today we hear Jesus’ answer when the lawyer asks him what must be done to have everlasting life. Jesus tells him the story of the Good Samaritan, answering the question: Who is my neighbor — everyone in need or just the people I know or the people like me?

• Who are you like in the story Jesus told: the hurt one, the Levite, the priest, the Samaritan or the lawyer?
• In today’s world, who are our neighbors?
• How do we love our neighbors today?
• Is it possible to love God without loving your neighbor?

July 21 — Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:38-42: Jesus visits the home of Mary and Martha, which shows us a picture of the two “parts” of life. Life is always about these two “parts”: prayer and study; hospitality and action (service).

• Mary and Martha each showed their friendship with Jesus in different ways. How did Mary show it? How did Martha show it?
• Do you think they could each learn from the other one?
• What do you think Martha was anxious or worried about?
• What are some things you (or people today) worry about?
• When are you like Mary? When are you like Martha?
• My time to pray and listen to God is __________.
• When are you hospitable/welcoming to others?
• When have you “served” someone else?
• What kind of actions for Jesus can you do this week?

July 28 — Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 11:1-13: Watching Jesus at prayer, the disciples ask him to teach them to pray. Jesus answers by teaching them the Lord’s Prayer (this is a shorter version than the one found in Matthew 6:9-13). Then Jesus tells two parables on prayer, the first reminding us to always continue to pray, and the second reminding us to always pray for the right things. God knows best how our prayers should be answered.

• What do we mean when we pray for God’s kingdom to come?
• What part of the Our Father is your favorite? Why?
• What prayer do you pray most often? Why do you think this is your most frequent prayer?
• What is a situation in which you need to pray the most?
• What are some different ways people pray to God?