Sunday Connection

Gospel Reading
Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.

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

Younger children are coming to know that things are not always what we expect them to be. Peter misunderstood what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Say: Things are not always what we expect them to be. Tell a story about a time that something turned out in a way that you did not expect. Invite children to talk about what they expected on their first day of school or their first time doing a new activity and share one way it turned out to be different than they expected.
2. Say: In today’s Gospel, Peter recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah, or Savior. Peter knew that this meant God the Father had sent Jesus to save us. He had expectations about what this would mean. He knew it was good news, but he didn’t understand what would happen.
3. Read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 8:27–35.
4. Say: Peter didn’t want to hear what Jesus taught his disciples—that he would suffer, die, and rise from the dead. Why do you think Peter didn’t want to hear that Jesus would suffer and die? (Accept all reasonable responses, including he loved Jesus; it made him sad and afraid to think of Jesus dying.) Say: Jesus knew that his suffering, Death, and Resurrection were God’s plan for our salvation. He taught us that God’s plan for us is far greater than we can know or expect. We can trust in God’s plan for us.
5. Pray a prayer thanking Jesus for his great sacrifice for us and for teaching us that we can trust God’s plan for us. Then close by praying together the Lord’s Prayer.

Gospel Reading
Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.

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

Older children can be as selective in their hearing as Peter is in today’s Gospel. We can lead them to understand that to accept Jesus’ Good News, we must also accept the way of the cross.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Tell the group: Think about a time when you were told something that you didn’t want to hear. For example, what do you do when you are watching TV and an adult tells you that it is time to clean your bedroom? Or perhaps you are playing outside with your friends, and your parent calls you in for dinner? How do you respond? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

2. Say: In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus telling his disciples something that they may not have wanted to hear. Let’s listen to find out what Jesus said and how one of his disciples responded.

3. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 8:27-35.

4. Ask: What did Jesus ask his disciples at the beginning of today’s Gospel? (He asked what people were saying about him.) What did Peter answer when Jesus asked the disciples who they thought that he was? (Peter said that Jesus was the Christ) Say: In saying this, Peter acknowledged that he believed that Jesus was sent by God to save his people. This must have sounded pretty good to the disciples.

5. What does Jesus tell his disciples next? (that he was going to suffer and die) What does Peter do? (Peter objects to what Jesus has said and rebukes him.) How does Jesus respond? (He tells Peter that he doesn’t understand and that he is not thinking like God.) Then what does Jesus tell his disciples? (Jesus says that anyone who wants to be his disciple must follow his example by denying oneself and taking up one’s cross.)

6. Say: Peter didn’t want to hear this part of the Good News of Jesus. But Jesus said that we have to accept all of it to be his followers, both the cross and the glory of the Resurrection. Jesus set an example for all his disciples to follow. He loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die for us.

7. Ask: Who are some people in our world today who serve others? (Accept all reasonable answers.) These people can also be examples for us. Jesus also wants us to offer our lives in service to others.

8. Conclude in prayer together that we will be good followers of Jesus. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer or the Prayer for Vocations.

Gospel Reading
Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.

Making the Connection (Grades 7 and 8)

Some young people have misunderstood the practice of the faith as a series of dos and don’ts that can be difficult to follow. As young people begin to make their own commitment to faith, we can help them understand that practicing our faith helps us live the Good News that Jesus taught us.

Materials Needed

• None

Preparation for Sunday Scripture Readings

1. Ask the young people to brainstorm possible answers to this question: What are some of the most important ways in which we practice our Catholic faith? As answers are offered, ask a volunteer to write them on the board. (Go to Mass on Sunday, keep the Commandments, try to live by the Beatitudes, and so on.)

2. Say: Each of these practices is intended to help us live the Good News that Jesus taught us. Let’s look at the list of practices of our faith and identify how each helps us live the Good News of Jesus. Together review the list and try to identify how each of these teachings can be considered “good news.”

3. Say: Jesus’ first disciples didn’t always recognize what Jesus taught them as good news, and we hear about one of these times in today’s Gospel.

4. Invite one or more volunteers to read aloud today’s Gospel, Mark 8:27-35.

5. Ask: What did Jesus ask his disciples at the beginning of today’s Gospel? (He asked what people were saying about him.) What did Peter answer when Jesus asked who the disciples thought he was? (Peter said that Jesus was the Christ.) Say: In saying this, Peter acknowledged that he believed that Jesus was sent by God to save his people. Peter must have certainly thought that this sounded like good news.

6. Ask: What does Jesus tell his disciples next? (that he was going to suffer and die) Who objects to this? (Peter) How does Jesus respond? (He tells Peter that he doesn’t understand and that he is not thinking like God.) Then what does Jesus tell his disciples? (Jesus says that anyone who wants to be his disciple must follow his example by denying oneself and taking up one’s cross.)

7. Say: Quite understandably, Peter didn’t recognize this second part of Jesus’ teaching as good news. How might we understand what Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel as good news? (Accept all reasonable answers.)

8. Say: One of the reasons we believe this to be good news is because Jesus set an example for all his disciples to follow. He loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die for us. He also helps us when we choose to follow him and offer our lives in service to others.

9. Conclude in prayer together that we will be followers of Jesus who serve others in love. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer or the Prayer for Vocations.

Gospel Reading
Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.

Family Connection

Peter had expectations about what it meant to call Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but his life and death would show a different understanding of what it means to be the Messiah. We, too, have expectations of God and our own ideas about what we think God ought to be doing in our world. Like Peter, however, we may risk limiting our image of God by thinking only in human ways. God's plan is always more that we can ever imagine.

As you gather as a family, talk about what we expect God to be doing in our world and in our family life. Then read today's Gospel, Mark 8:31-35. Why do you think Peter was so upset by what Jesus was saying? Notice how Jesus reprimands Peter. Do we sometimes forget to let God be God for us? That is, do we sometimes get discouraged because God doesn't act in our world in the ways that we expect? Pray together that we will remember that God is always working for the world's salvation in ways that are beyond our imagination. Conclude by praying together today's psalm, Psalm 116.