Intermediate Session
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Luke 10:25-37

Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
O God,
we love you with our whole heart and soul.
Help us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.

Opening Life Reflection
The theme for today is Jesus’ great commandment to love God and neighbor. To begin, provide each child with paper and pencil. Invite the children to trace their hand on the paper. Then have them write inside the hand how they can use their hands to spread love and compassion throughout the world. Discuss:
• Why is it important to use your hands to love and care for others?
• How do you show love for God?
• How do you show love for your neighbor?

Allow time for discussion. Jesus taught that there is one great commandment, which has two parts. We are to love God, and we are to love our neighbor.

Listening to the Word of God
In the Old Testament reading listen to the law of God.

Read Deuteronomy 30:10-14.
Allow for silence.

Scripture Discussion Starters
• Why do the people obey God?
• What law is written in their hearts?
• Why is God’s law easy to observe?

In the gospel listen to Jesus teach his followers how to love their neighbor.

Read Luke 10:25-37.
Allow for silence.

• What great commandment does Jesus teach his followers?
• What story does Jesus tell?
• What message does Jesus give his followers?

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

The first reading from the Old Testament was most likely written during the exile to bolster the faith and commitment of the Jewish people. Today’s passage points out the importance of observing God’s law. The demands of the covenant are not too hard for God’s people. They need only listen to the command to love the Lord God with all their heart and soul, which is written deep within their hearts.

This reading reveals the intimate relationship between God and God’s people. The law is not presented as a decree to be followed out of a sense of duty alone. The people out of a sense of love embrace the law of God.

In today’s gospel Jesus brings to light the central and most important commandment--to love God and love your neighbor. This two-fold command of love is at the core of Jesus’ teaching. To help his listeners understand what it means to love one’s neighbor Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. Through this story Jesus teaches that all people are our neighbors and when we show mercy toward our fellow human beings we show love for our neighbor.

Questions for Deeper Reflection
• What does it mean to have the law of God written in your heart?
• What does the story of the “Good Samaritan” tell us about being a neighbor?
• How can you be a good neighbor?

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

Doctrinal Discussion Starters
Love of Neighbor
Jesus summed up all the commandments into one great commandment--to love God with one’s whole self and love one’s neighbor as oneself. The Ten Commandments must be interpreted in light of this single commandment.

In The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Ten Commandments are divided into two chapters. The first chapter focuses on the first three commandments (love God with your whole self). The second chapter focuses on commandments four through ten (love your neighbor as yourself). This division clearly shows how Jesus’ great commandment incorporates all the commandments.

Catholic tradition gives us the works of mercy to help show us how to love our neighbor. The spiritual works of mercy are: admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving all injuries and praying for the living and dead. The corporal (or bodily) works of mercy are: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and burying the dead. By practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy we actively love our neighbor.

• How do you show love and respect to the members of your family?
• How can practicing the works of mercy show your love for God and neighbor?
• How does loving your neighbor show your love for God?

The Gospel in Life
Choose one of the spiritual or corporal works of mercy to practice this week.

Connecting to Faith First® Legacy Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 13
Grade 4, chapter 18
Grade 5, chapter 23
Grade 6, chapter 19 and 22

Connecting to Faith First® Original Edition
At Home Family Guide, theme 13
Grade 4, chapter 18
Grade 5, chapter 23
Grade 6, chapter 19 and 22