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On Sunday, October 19, the Catholic Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. This special observance was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as a day of solidarity to help Christians recognize our common responsibility for the evangelization of the entire world. On World Mission Sunday, we are called in a special way to offer our prayers and financial contribution for the Catholic Church’s missionary work in places like Asia, Africa, Latin America, South America, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Europe.
This year’s theme for the celebration is “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples.” In his message to the Pontifical Mission Societies, Pope Leo wrote: “Our world, wounded by war, violence and injustice, needs to hear the Gospel message of God’s love and to experience the reconciling power of Christ’s grace. In this sense, the Church herself, in all her members, is increasingly called to be ‘a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word . . . and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity’” (Homily, Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate, 18 May 2025).
Mary, Queen of the Missions, pray for us!
We offer this adapted reflection on the Sunday Gospel by Father Michael Lavallee of the Diocese of Worcester:
Our friendship with God is based upon the truths of our lives, which God knows fully. The way others see us and the way we see ourselves is incomplete because it is only God, who made us, who understands us fully.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector depicts two men who are at opposite ends of the spectrum of self-understanding. One is haughtily smug in the assumption of his self-righteousness while the other is overcome by awareness of his sinfulness and need for God’s mercy. Jesus is clear that the man who was aware of his sinfulness was “justified” in the eyes of God.
In our contemporary world, the word sin rarely comes up in common discourse. Yet, the existence of sin in the world is the very reason Jesus freely sacrificed his life for us. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults defines sin as “an offense against God as well as against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods” (p. 528). Because of Original Sin, we are all fallen creatures with weakened natural powers. Every day, we face temptation to turn away from God and to do evil. Yet, in 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul reminds us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (NABRE). It is through Christ’s blood for us, shed on Calvary, that we are saved from sin and death and are given the joy of eternal salvation.
In Sunday’s parable, only the tax collector recognized his sinfulness and need for salvation. Luke tells us that Jesus “addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else” (18:9, NABRE). Indeed, these would be those, like the Pharisee, who saw no sin present in their lives.
Both the Pharisee and the tax collector went to the Temple to pray. This movement of both to worship God suggests that both believed in God and in the importance of prayer.
The Pharisee’s prayer is clearly addressed not to God but “to himself” (v. 11a). By including this note, Luke suggests the Pharisee’s self-absorption. This blinded the Pharisee to the needs of others and to his own need for conversion. In his prayer, the Pharisee stressed that he was unlike “the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous” or like the tax collector! (v. 11b). In addition to being blind to himself and others, the Pharisee was also guilty of judging his neighbor.
The Pharisee had his distorted image of himself due to his belief that he was perfectly observing the laws of Judaism. This strict observance was the standard of justification used by many Jews at the time. Since he was fulfilling the law’s demands, the Pharisee felt that he was fine in his friendship with God.
Yet, this was not so. Jesus offers the example of the tax collector who humbly cried out to God “be merciful to me a sinner” (v. 13b). Jesus concludes that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 14). The Lord teaches us the need for humility before God as well as ongoing recognition for our need for conversion. Indeed, acknowledging that we are sinners in need of salvation means that we need a savior, Jesus Christ. This makes our faith more meaningful and our practice of it more fervent.
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
• Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
• Pharisee and the Tax Collector
• Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
• 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: Everyone is important to Jesus.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the story coloring page (one per child).
The children will learn that in God’s eyes, every person has the same value. They will learn about the Golden Rule. If you have a dedicated classroom, you could place a big poster on the wall or bulletin board with the words THE GOLDEN RULE and, when you notice a child living it by sharing, being fair, or treating others with respect, you can invite him or her to draw a heart or place a sticker on the poster.
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
Promise
Lesson Theme: Everyone is important to God.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, Church Year calendar, story coloring page (one per child), and double-sided or masking tape. An aide or aides to assist with cutting, folding, and taping may be helpful. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 of the student lessons in advance. Find versions of “When the Saints Go Marching In” here and here. These are just two of the many options offered here.
Note that you will introduce the children to saints in this lesson. This content fits well with the Gospel and lesson theme and anticipates All Saints’ Day on November 1. Emphasize that we can all become saints in Heaven someday. In the context of teaching about saints, you will help the children learn to pray the Hail Mary. Plan to pray this prayer together over the next several weeks so the children will memorize it. Engage parents in this effort as well.
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 be humble.
For this lesson, you will need a recording of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Find versions here and here. These are just two of the many options offered here. You will also need to gather pencils, game markers, pennies (one per group of three children), and a Church Year calendar.
Note that you will discuss saints in this lesson. This content fits well with the Gospel and lesson theme and anticipates All Saints’ Day on November 1. We make the tie of saints to the humble attitude shown by the tax collector in Sunday’s Gospel. Being humble and having humility may have different meanings than the children (and possibly you) first think of. You might offer the children the following help for learning and remembering the definition of humility. Being humble and having humility are ways of being honest. Note all three words begin with the letter h. When we are honest about where our gifts and talents come from (God) and recognize that we’re not perfect, we show God honor, treat other people as equals, and don’t brag or put others down.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to be humble.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, markers or colored pencils, scissors, a ball or yard or string, four small strips of paper, a Liturgical Year calendar, and name cards and class motto from the 9/21 lesson. We suggest that you separate pages 7–8 from pages 1–6 in advance. It will save time during class if you also cut and clip together the cards on page 7 in advance.
This Gospel Reading challenges our ideas about greatness. The person who is considered powerful and successful by earthly standards is not necessarily the same person God considers great. He uses the example of a tax collector, who is considered shady, and a Pharisee, who strictly follows the Law of Moses. It’s an opportunity for the children to consider the qualities of a great person. The cover activity in this lesson is an intricate game. Make sure to prepare by reading the instructions carefully before you begin. Gamers will enjoy the familiar format that will help to introduce the idea of how greatness is determined in the Kingdom of God.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• St. Katharine Drexel
• What are child rights?
Visions
Lesson Theme: Be humble in prayer.
Gather pens or pencils, slips of white paper, and white board or large sheets of paper.
Direct the young people to complete the cover activity on their own. Then you may choose to have a class discussion or set up the discussion in a debate with you as the moderator. Ask: What things make someone great in God’s eyes? Likely it’s not the same criteria as we might expect.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Life and Dignity of the Human Person
• The Moment in Which The Pope Declares Mother Teresa A Saint
• Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Image credit: https://pontificalmissions.org/wms
