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October 16 is World Food Day. In a society of fast food and dieters, we can lose touch with the reality of food insecurity that so many in our country and wider world face daily. In a society of bottled water and soft drinks, we can lose sight of the fact that many people do not have access to clean and safe drinking water. While problems in the supply chain may still affect some items on our grocery lists, we have many other options with which to fill our carts. And while preparing meals for our families may sometimes be a hassle, most of us rarely lack food with which to feed them.
If we as adults can be so out of touch with the reality of world hunger, how much more unaware may the children in our lives be. From picky eaters to those whose “eyes are bigger than their stomachs,” children can waste a lot of food. Help children find out how they can learn and take action so that no one is left behind. Find World Food Day Activity Books here. Let’s all do our part to take a bite out of world hunger!
Loving God, help us to simplify our lives so that others may simply live. Amen.
We offer this adapted reflection on the Sunday Gospel by Father Michael Lavallee of the Diocese of Worcester:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that through prayer, “the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church” (page 894). It also explains that “humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that ‘we do not know how to pray as we ought,’ are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. ‘Man is a beggar before God’” (2559, citing Romans 8:26 and Saint Augustine).
It is this stance of humble prayer that Jesus emphasizes in Sunday’s Gospel. Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to teach his disciples “the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary” (Luke 18:1). “For a long time the judge was unwilling” to render a just verdict for the widow (Luke 18:4). Yet, the widow persisted in her efforts. Although the judge’s reason for ruling in the widow’s favor was not based in a true desire to act in justice toward her, the widow’s efforts were ultimately successful. It is this success that Jesus emphasizes.
Jesus explains that the judge neither feared God nor respected any human being. The judge’s contempt for God and others made the already difficult situation of a widow worse. Widows in ancient society were often vulnerable and without power. Through this parable, Jesus directs his followers to pay attention to the marginalized and help them.
The parable concludes as the Lord assures his disciples, “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?” (Luke 18:7). Jesus clearly says, “I tell you, [God] will see to it that justice is done for [those prayerfully seeking his help] speedily” (18:8a).
In the last line of the passage, Jesus asks, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (18:8b). The parable indicates that persistent prayer reflects the presence of faith in the hearts of Christians. Jesus’ question reminds us that such persistence and faith is difficult to maintain. Jesus thus warns believers to remain committed to prayer and faith until he comes again.
Saint John Paul II said, “Therefore, do not stop praying! Let not a day pass without your having prayed a little!” May we open our hearts today to prayer’s many graces.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Holy Heroes
• The Parable of the Persistent Widow in Lego
• Follow Me Parable Persistent Widow
• The Persistent Widow – Why you never stop praying!
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
Other Resources
• Jubilee 2025
• Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy
For Catholic Schools
• Albert’s Expeditions Join Albert, a fierce yet friendly Peregrine Falcon, named after Saint Albert the Great (who even gave the Peregrine Falcon its name 800 years ago!) on scientific expeditions all around the globe. From under the soil to the sky full of stars, discover the stunning natural world full of life that God has created. Meant for children ages 5–10 and all families who want to learn more about their beautiful world around them and the Divine Creator who formed it all.
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus wants us to ask.
For this lesson, you will need crayons or colored pencils and a Church Year calendar. As we approach the start of a new Liturgical Year, you may find a 2026 Church Year calendar for your classroom here.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching us the importance of being persistent in prayer, like the widow in the story. The most important lesson that the children must understand is that we can talk to God anytime and anywhere because God is always with us. During the whole year, you can be a model of trust in God through prayer by using any opportunity to give thanks to God for all his blessings, to pray for the children’s families and particular situations, and to remind the children to persevere in their prayers.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
• Five Finger Prayer: Teach Kids to Pray
Promise
Lesson Theme: God wants us to ask.
For this lesson, gather crayons, pencils, scissors, drawing paper, a Church Year calendar, and a story coloring page (one per child). We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance. As we approach the start of a new Liturgical Year, you may find a 2026 Church Year calendar for your classroom here.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches his followers to be persistent in prayer. Helping young children learn to pray is an important part of your time with them. A catechist’s willingness to pray with children gives powerful witness to the importance of God in our lives. Plan simple prayers into every class session. Pray for people the children know, things and people in the news, your own concerns, and those you’ve discussed in class. Vary the prayer forms you use—including movement, role-playing, singing, spontaneous prayer, and memorized prayer. Model prayer as a heart-to-heart talk with God so that the children can follow your lead and persist in their own prayers.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag Gospel Lesson with Mrs. Cole
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to pray always.
For this lesson, gather pencils, crayons, drawing paper, and a Church Year calendar. As we approach the start of a new Liturgical Year, you may find a 2026 Church Year calendar for your classroom here.
Good News children can be very persistent in asking for things they want. This can be good practice for their prayer lives. In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers to be persistent in prayer. But our prayers should be more than only requests (petitions, intercessions). Our prayers should also include thanksgiving, praise, and expressions of sorrow. This lesson teaches the children that they can pray anytime, anywhere, through good deeds and kind words, and with their bodies. Expose the children to a variety of ways to pray and encourage them to pray often. The important thing is not how they pray but that they pray!
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Video
• The Five Finger Prayer for Children
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to keep praying.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils and name cards and class motto from the 9/21 lesson. We suggest that you make one photocopy of the lesson cover and cut out the squares in advance.
The theme of this Sunday’s Gospel is asking for what we need with persistent prayer. Some of the children will be very familiar with prayer—they will be able to identify its forms and likely have a regular prayer practice. Some will be less familiar with prayer. Encourage those who are very familiar to expand and vary their prayer practice. Everyone has room to grow in prayer.
Share with the children that it can be difficult to keep praying without losing heart. The Bible tells us to “keep praying,” but it can be a challenge to remain hopeful when it seems that God does not respond as quickly or in the way we would like. Assure them that God is always there, and regular prayer will make that more apparent.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• God’s Story–Moses
• God’s Story–Prayer
Visions
Lesson Theme: How can we persist in prayer?
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils and scissors.
Invite the young people to think about how they get what they want or need. Ask: How do we ask God for what we need? Prayer. The theme of this Sunday’s Gospel and lesson is persistence—persistence in prayer, in working for justice, in seeking what is right. Give the young people time to assess their knowledge of prayer by taking the two prayer quizzes on pages 44 and 45 of their What the Church Believes and Teaches handbooks. Note: We do not “grade” people on prayer. This is just a benchmark and guide to see where they might spend more time talking with God.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• God’s Story–Moses
• Spread the Word: Inclusion
Image credit: world-food-day@fao.org
