Intermediate Session
Isaiah 25:6-10
Matthew 22:1-14

Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
Lord, we give you thanks and praise for all the great things you have done for us.
Help us to live together as one family.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.

Opening Life Reflection
The theme for today is to keep holy the Lord’s day. To begin, invite the children to create an invitation card to invite someone to Mass on Sunday. Have them include in the card a description of the meal, music and other parts of the celebration. Provide paper, markers, and pencils. Discuss:
• What do we celebrate at Mass?
• Why is Mass a time of thanksgiving?
• What celebration does God invite us to every Sunday?

Allow time for discussion. We refer to Sunday as the Lord’s day because it is the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. On this day believers rejoice. Every Sunday we come together at Mass to celebrate all that God has done for us.

Listening to the Word of God
In the Old Testament reading today listen to the prophet Isaiah joyfully announce all that God has planned for the people.

Read Isaiah 25:6-10.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters
• What will God do for the people?
• What kind of a feast will God provide?
• Why does Isaiah tell the people to rejoice and be glad?

In the gospel today, listen to Jesus tell the story of a king who invites many guests to a wedding banquet.

Read Matthew 22:1-14.
Allow for silence.

• What happens to the first guests who are invited to the wedding banquet?
• Why does the king tell his servants to go and invite everyone they find to the banquet?
• Why does Jesus tell the story of the king and the wedding banquet?

Scripture Background
Provide 2-3 minutes of background information on the readings using the Catechist Background section.

In the Old Testament reading today, Isaiah rejoices in the goodness of the Lord. The image of a great banquet is used to show the blessings that God’s people will experience on the last day from the Lord. For the Jewish people, the setting on the mountain is symbolic of a place to encounter the divine. God promises to wipe away all tears and destroy death. The banquet celebration in today’s passage shows God’s everlasting love for the people.

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses the image of a wedding banquet to teach about the kingdom of God. Servants are sent by the king to invite guests to a banquet. Some refuse to come, some are too busy, and some even kill the servants. The king gets angry at the refusal of the invited guests. He wants people to attend his banquet so he tells his servants to go out and invite everyone they can find. In today’s parable the sending of the servants is like the preaching of the prophets. The preaching first is directed to Israel and with their refusal, finally it is directed to the Gentiles. The message to those who sit at the banquet table is to act accordingly, and to live as followers of Jesus.

Questions for Deeper Reflection
• How do today’s readings relate to celebrating Mass?
• How do we act as guests at God’s table?
• Why is it important for believers to attend Mass?

[If you are not going to continue with the doctrinal discussion, proceed to the Gospel in Life.]

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Keep Holy the Lord’s Day
Sunday is the day we call the Lord’s Day. On Sunday Christ rose from the dead. On this day believers rejoice because everything changed for the better. The Church celebrates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus every Sunday, the Lord’s Day. On this day all Christ’s faithful are called to come together to listen to the word of God and take part in the Eucharist. We gather to give thanks and praise to God.

The third commandment instructs us to observe and keep holy the Sabbath. This commandment refers to the Jewish Sabbath. Six days were set aside for work, but the seventh day was for rest, just as God rested after having created the world. But for us Christians Sunday is associated with Christ because of his resurrection on the first day of the week.

From the beginning of the Church, the community of believers gathered on Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. The Catholic Church understands that it is necessary for us to come together on the Lord’s day to thank God for making us one in Jesus. Each Sunday we celebrate our passover in Christ from death and sin to new life and grace. On Sunday we praise God and rejoice in Jesus who fills our lives with love.

• What does the third commandment teach us?
• How do Catholics keep the Lord’s Day holy?
• How does attending Mass help us to live as followers of Jesus?

Sacrament Connection
When we celebrate Mass we believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Sharing in the Eucharist helps us to live as one family. We are joined together with Jesus and one another.

The Gospel in Life
This week use the invitation you made to help remind you to keep the Lord’s day holy.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
Grade 4 chapter 12
Grade 5, chapter 14
Grade 6, chapters 12 and 15

Connecting to Faith First® Original Edition
Grade 4, chapter 12
Grade 5, chapter 14
Grade 6, chapters 15 and 21