21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A (2023)

The readings for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A remind us that God’s wisdom is not the same as our own wisdom. In the first reading (Isaiah 22:19-23) we hear that God has the power to remove the mighty from their positions of leadership. The psalm (Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8) rejoices that ” The Lord is exalted, yet the lowly he sees”. In the second reading (Romans 11:33-36) Paul tells us that we cannot know the mind of God, as his wisdom and knowledge are beyond us. And in the gospel (Matthew 16:13-20) Simon Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus declares that this is a revelation from the Father.

Possible topics for this Sunday are Church authority, faith, and prayer. Here are some ideas:

Start a Prayer Journal

Lent is a time when we explore ways to deepen our prayer lives. A prayer journal is a good way to stay focused during prayer. I find this an especially helpful practice for teens who are trying to develop a deeper prayer life. But it is appropriate for all ages. #prayer

Prayer for Our Holy Father

Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. One person who often requests our prayers is our Holy Father, Pope Francis.  In fact, his very first Instagram post was simply captioned "Pray for me". 

Ah So Co Game

Ah So Co is a fast paced circle game which can be played while social distancing. Use it for your youth ministry, VBS, or camp. It works well for six or more players. This game is all about following directions. It is also about saying and doing the right thing at the right time.

Hello. This is Jesus. Reflection and Questions

If we had to introduce Jesus to somebody, would we be able to? How would we identify Him? This reflection asks us who we think Jesus is.

And You, Who Do You Say I Am?

We hear Jesus’s question directed to each one of us: “And you, who do you say I am?”. It is a question of giving not a theoretical answer, but one that involves faith, that is, life, because faith is life! - Pope Francis (Social media graphic)

For from Him and through Him and for Him Are All Things

For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Social media graphic)

Seeing the Big Picture Youth Ministry Game

This seeing the big picture game is designed to help youth understand that it can be disorienting or difficult to understand something if we only see it from a small perspective. It can be difficult for us to understand why the Holy Spirit is leading us somewhere unfamiliar or why the Church has a teaching.

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