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This Sunday is Respect Life Sunday in the U.S., and the month of October is Respect Life Month. This year’s theme is “Life: Our Sign of Hope.”
Please join us in prayer:
A Prayer for Hope
Heavenly Father, in the sacrament of Baptism, you have given us the gift of new life. Through your son our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, you have made us your own.
Help us to recognize the gift of human life as a sign of hope in our world.
Reveal to us the places where your precious gift of life is most in need of protection and strengthen us to defend life in all stages and circumstances, from the child in the womb to the elderly and dying.
Guided by your Holy Spirit, guard us from discouragement and give us the grace to be messengers of hope, filled with confidence that nothing can separate us from your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We offer this adapted reflection on the Sunday Gospel by Father Michael Lavalee of the Diocese of Worcester:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines faith as “both a gift of God and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God who invites his response, and freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed” (pages 878–879). Scripture tells us that “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Several times in the Gospels, Jesus tells those he heals, “Your faith has saved you” (Mark 10:52, Matthew 9:22). Indeed, Jesus shows those who believe that faith is a power that transforms human life.
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples about faith’s power. He explains that only a small amount of faith can do incredible things. He then goes on to show that faith changes the minds and hearts of believers so that they take on a servant’s perspective on life.
Sunday’s Gospel begins with the apostles’ request of Jesus to “increase our faith.” This may be translated as “add faith to us.” After being unable to do something faith should have enabled them to do, the apostles recognize their need for growth in faith. Jesus teaches them about the power of even a small amount of faith. He assures them that “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” The apostles do not need more faith, but simply authentic faith in their hearts.
Jesus then instructs the apostles about having the attitude of a servant. He gives the example of a servant hard at work for the master, then being asked by that master to stop his labor and be seated at the master’s table for a meal. Jesus is emphatic that such a thought is unlike that which any master would have. Rather, Jesus suggests, the master would “say to [the servant], ‘Prepare something for me to eat.’” Jesus then asks, “Is [the master] grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?”
Servants should not expect to be congratulated for their service. Their work is done because of duty. In a similar way, disciples of Jesus are called to do their duty as followers. This duty is done in debt to God for his blessings, but no one can fully repay God for his gifts. Jesus is clear that Christian service is an expected part of discipleship.
Sunday’s Gospel challenges us to consider again the power of faith. Miracles are still happening today through the power of God and the complete faith of many disciples. As we reflect upon the message of this passage, let us have a new and wonderful expectation that our faith will lead us to experience new wonders of God’s love in our lives.
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
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
• Pope Leo: Advice to Parents, Children, and Grandparents
• 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 grow.
In preparation for this lesson, you will need crayons, a stapler, scissors, poppy seeds, glue, a Bible, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 before class.
This lesson encourages the children to place their trust in God, who created them and wants them to grow and flourish. For the seeds activity on page 1, you can use poppy seeds or any other kind of small seed. We recommend you have at least one aide to assist with this activity. This is a good opportunity to engage parents in their child’s faith formation.
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 invites us to trust him.
For this lesson, you will need crayons, scissors, a small box or hat, pencils, small slips of paper that contain the children’s names, a Church Year calendar, colored pencils, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and aide(s) to help with cutting and printing. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 in advance.
This lesson invites the children to explore what it means to trust someone. In that context, the children learn that we can trust God and God’s promises. You might extend that to include God’s Word (the Bible) as trustworthy. You will introduce them to two saints—Saint Francis of Assisi (feast day 10/4) and Saint Teresa of Calcutta—who trusted Jesus. Trust is a foundational concept for helping the children develop an idea of what faith and belief are. You will introduce them to the term creed as the Word of the Week. The Creed is our profession of faith, a list of those things we believe about God and trust to be true.
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 invites us to believe and serve.
Gather crayons, pencils, and a Church Year calendar for this lesson.
This lesson ties together important themes of trust, belief, faith, and service. The children will learn about the Creed and the meaning of Amen. They will complete a creed prayer of belief in the Blessed Trinity. Help them to understand that faith is a gift that we nurture in our lives so that our faith will become stronger. Having faith will lead us to helping and serving others as Jesus teaches us to do.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Venture
Lesson Theme: Jesus invites us to believe and serve.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, Bibles (one per child), name cards and class motto from the 9/21 lessons, and a Liturgical Year calendar.
After reading and discussing the story “From Soldier to Saint” (pages 2–3), make sure the children know that Saint Francis’s feast day is celebrated on Saturday, October 4.
Remind the children to interview someone about their faith and provide time for them to share highlights of these interviews next week. Direct the children to read the Saints feature about Saint Carlo Acutis (page 8)—assign it either as homework or for reading during class. He is a great example of someone whose faith guided his life and helped him make a difference for good.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• How Carlo Acutis Became God’s Influencer, Saint of the Internet
• The Life of Blessed Carlo Acutis
• Canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati
• The Incredible Life of Carlo Acutis (Lego)
• Catholic Central: Saint Francis
• Project Scripture Teen: Life of Saint Francis of Assisi (Note: The video indicates he was born in 1181, but our lesson indicates 1182. Most sources indicate “1181 or 1182” or “around 1182,” so his birth year is uncertain.)
• “Canticle of the Sun” by Marty Haugen
• Object Lesson on Faith
• What Is Faith?
• Bishop Barron on What Faith Is and What Faith Isn’t
• Marks of the Church
Visions
Lesson Theme: What power does faith give?
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils and markers or colored pencils.
After the Play-Drama “Saint Francis, Knight for God” (pages 2–3) point out that Saint Francis’s feast day is Saturday, October 4.
This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us that we are called to believe—and to act on those beliefs. Invite the young people to list the ways that they reveal their faith through their actions. The Attitudes feature (page 8) poses a question: How has someone’s faith in you made a difference? Give the young people time to read their peers’ responses and allow them time to share their own responses.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Object Lesson on Faith
• What Is Faith?
• Bishop Barron on What Faith Is and What Faith Isn’t
• Catholic Central: Saint Francis
• Project Scripture Teen: Life of Saint Francis of Assisi
• “Canticle of the Sun” by Marty Haugen
Image and prayer credit: Copyright © 2025, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.
