Para la versión en español, haga clic aquí.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us his roadmap to happiness—and to our ultimate destination: Heaven. When Jesus teaches the Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel, he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). It’s Matthew’s version that we hear at Mass this Sunday. In Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, he takes out the phrase in spirit. Throughout his Gospel, Luke calls attention to those who live in material poverty—the ones without enough food, clothes, or shelter.
The Thanksgiving and Christmas collections for the poor are past, but the needs of agencies that serve the poor continue throughout the year. As the beginning of Lent (2/18) approaches, you might consider planning a collection to benefit the materially poor. Homeless shelters often need socks and personal care products. Food banks need nonperishable food items. Pregnancy help centers may need maternity clothes and baby items. As we work to help meet the physical needs of these agencies’ clients, we can also add our commitment to pray for them. Their spiritual needs are just as important as their physical needs.
And helping others can help us to experience what Matthew may have meant by poor in spirit. We may be moved to gratitude for our many blessings, acknowledge that all we have is gift from God, and trust in him for our needs much like children depend on their parents.
This Sunday’s Gospel message ties in well with the recently announced Franciscan Jubilee Year. Saint Francis of Assisi left a comfortable life to live more simply. He and his followers chose a life of poverty and dependence on God to provide for their needs. Learn more about Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) here. This year of Jubilee celebrates 800 years since his death (born to eternal life). We will share more resources related to Saint Francis through the coming year.
LET US PRAY: May the shining example of Saint Francis, who knew how to make himself poor and humble in order to be true alter Christus on earth, inspire our hearts to live with authentic Christian charity towards our neighbor and with sincere longings for concord and peace among peoples. Following in the footsteps of the Poverello of Assisi, let us transform the hope that made us pilgrims during the Holy Year into fervor and zeal of effective charity. May this Year of Saint Francis be for each one of us a providential occasion for sanctification and evangelical witness in the contemporary world, for the glory of God and the good of the whole Church. Amen.
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:
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
• Holy Heroes
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
Other Resources
• Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy
• Special Message from Pope Leo to Young People (NCYC | November 21, 2025)
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 is our teacher.
For this lesson you will need scissors, glue or tape, crayons, a puppet, drawing paper, two lunch bags, four index cards, a Church Year calendar, and copies of the story coloring page (one per child).
Sunday’s Gospel of the Beatitudes can be challenging for even adults to understand. Yet the Beatitudes are a very important teaching of Jesus—right up there with his expansion on the meaning of the Ten Commandments, his Law of Love, and the Great Commandment. Seeds children should understand that Jesus wants us to have happiness that lasts.
For the activity-story “Loving or Unloving?” you need to mark four index cards or sheets of paper with the numbers 1–4. Also, you need to label one lunch bag “Loving Choice” and the other lunch bag “Unloving Choice.” Make sure the numbers and letters are big enough for the children to see from a distance. To differentiate them, you can add a red heart to the “Loving Choice” bag.
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: Jesus wants us to be happy.
Sunday’s Gospel of the Beatitudes can be challenging for even adults to understand. Yet the Beatitudes are a very important teaching of Jesus—right up there with his expansion on the meaning of the Ten Commandments, his Law of Love, and the Great Commandment. The important takeaway for children of Promise age is that Jesus wants us to be happy. They will learn the term Beatitudes as Jesus’ list of attitudes and actions that will help his followers find real happiness. Emphasize that Jesus wants us to be happy in this life and in Heaven with him forever after we die. By using the What the Church Believes and Teaches handbook, page 8, you will help the children recognize that choosing to do and say what is loving and kind will make them happy. Disobeying God (sinning) will make them unhappy.
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 wants us to be happy.
For this lesson, you will need pencils, crayons, scissors, drawing paper, and a Church Year calendar. You may wish to enlist the help of an aide or aides to assist with folding the Beatitudes Flip Square (pages 3–4). Find directions for making the flip square and playing the game here. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 and 3–4 in advance.
Sunday’s Gospel of the Beatitudes can be challenging for even adults to understand. Yet the Beatitudes are a very important teaching of Jesus—right up there with his expansion on the meaning of the Ten Commandments, his Law of Love, and the Great Commandment. One important takeaway for Good News children is that Jesus wants us to be happy.
Make sure to explore what each of the eight Beatitudes means. You’ll find some possible explanations in the What the Church Believes and Teaches box on page TG3-15. Help the children move beyond what, on the surface, can sound like contradictory statements. They are still concrete thinkers, so don’t expect them to fully grasp these concepts.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Kid Catholic: 8 Beatitudes (Part 1)
• Kid Catholic: 8 Beatitudes (Part 2)
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus’ law is love.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils, scissors, tape, Bibles (one per child), squares of thin paper for origami cranes, and a Liturgical Year calendar.
Sunday’s Gospel message may be confusing to some. The Beatitudes appear to be filled with contradictory promises. How would we ever consider the poor—the sorrowful, the downtrodden, the hungry—to be blessed or happy? The Beatitudes are God’s hopeful promises for an eternity with him. They are also a reminder that God does not abandon us, especially at our lowest points.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Saint John Bosco
• The Beatitudes
• Who Wrote the Gospel of Matthew?
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches about happiness.
For this lesson, you will need pens or pencils, Bibles (one per student), and votive candles for prayer time.
Sunday’s Gospel message may be confusing to some. The Beatitudes appear to be full of contradictory promises. How would we ever consider the poor—the sorrowful, the downtrodden, the hungry—to be blessed or happy? The Beatitudes are God’s hopeful promises for an eternity with him. They are also a reminder that God does not abandon us, especially at our lowest points. You may wish to bring newspapers or allow the young people to use their cell phones to research examples for the activity on page 6–7.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• The Beatitudes
• Who Wrote the Gospel of Matthew?
• Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation
Image credit: Анастасия Стягайло/stock.adobe.com
Prayer credit: https://ofm.org
