Children's Liturgy Devotional, Children's Sermon, Children's Homily,Catholic, Christian,Good News A42a Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, John 3:13-17

Cycle A

Good News A42a

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Used for Cycle B and C, too

John 3:13-17 Bible Gateway New International Version

In today’s Gospel is perhaps one of the most recited verses from the Bible:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” New American Bible

Think about it. If you had an only Son would you offer his life to save the whole world? God the Father brought Jesus back to life. He can bring each of us back to life when we die. He gives us everlasting life. He gives us the chance to live with him in heaven forever.

Suppose God gave you a chance to take a tour of heaven ahead of time. You want to make sure you’ll like this place. After all if you are going to spend forever there, you want to know what it will be like.

On earth you can have an appointment with God anytime you want. In heaven you will be able to see him and hear his voice. You will be able to give him a big hug.

You’ll have a perfect body. You won’t get sick. You won’t get hurt. You’ll feel good every day.

You will have anything you want. If you want a library full of books, you will have it. If you want to have a party with balloons, music and dancing with lots of family and friends, you can do that. If you want to fly kites across the heavens, you can do that. As I understand it, you will have whatever you want to be happy.

You will be able to wear clothes you like every day. You can eat the finest food.

If you want, God will let you look out for the people who are still on earth and help them. God loves the people he created. This is why God decided to send his Son. There were many people on earth who were doing good. There were many people who were doing evil. God gave people a free will. They could choose whether they wanted to be good or if they wanted to be evil. God did not make boys and girls perfect. He did not make men and women perfect. God saw that people were having a hard time down here on earth. People were ignoring his ten commandments. God wanted his people to choose his way. So God decided to send his son to earth to show us how to please him. He wanted to show his people the benefits of choosing good over evil. Jesus said when you choose good over evil you will have life eternal with me in heaven. Jesus said to love God you’re your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind and love your neighbor as yourself. After Jesus died on the cross, God forgave people for their sins and let them go into heaven. He sent his son to teach us how to pray.

Take the time to draw a picture of what you think heaven is like. Then say the “Our Father” thanking God the Father for sending Jesus to save us so that we can have everlasting life.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.