Distraction Free Zone

What’s Distracting You?

This game is a fun way to show how distractions work while getting everyone laughing. Have the group stand in a circle. Choose one person to be “It,” who will play the role of a teacher giving instructions to the group. The rest of the players are “students” and must follow the teacher’s instructions as best they can.

“It” will give simple commands like, “Clap your hands three times,” “Spin in a circle,” or “Touch your nose.” At the same time, a secretly chosen “Distractor” will try to draw the group’s attention away by whispering jokes, making funny faces, or pretending to trip. The teacher (It) must keep an eye on the students and call out anyone who gets distracted.

Play for 30 seconds to a minute per round, then pause and reveal who the Distractor was. Rotate roles so multiple people get a chance to be “It” or the Distractor.

Follow up with a few questions:

• What made it hard to focus on the person in the center?
• How did you feel when you were distracted?
• What do you think this says about how distractions work in real life?

That was fun, wasn’t it? But did you notice how hard it was to stay focused when someone was trying to distract you? This game shows how easy it is to lose track of what’s important, even when we’re trying to pay attention. Life is full of distractions just like this. Some distractions are small, like a funny noise, but others can really pull us away from what matters most.

This happens in our daily lives too. We have school, sports, friends, and hobbies, and they can all take up our time and attention. These things aren’t bad, but when they keep us from spending time with God, they become a problem. It’s important to learn how to focus on what really matters, especially when it comes to our faith.

We’re going to look at a story from the Bible that talks about this. It’s the story of Martha and Mary, two sisters who had to figure out how to balance work and time with Jesus. As we read and talk about this, think about the distractions you face and how you can make time for God in your own life.

Read Luke 10:38-42 (Martha and Mary), the Gospel for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C:

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.

Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.”

The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Think about your day. How often are you on your phone, scrolling through social media, watching videos, or texting your friends? How much time do you spend on schoolwork, sports, or other activities like music practice, gaming, or hanging out? These are all normal parts of life, and most of them are good in the right balance. But sometimes, without even realizing it, these things can take over so much of our time and attention that we lose focus on what really matters—our relationship with God.

In Luke 10:38-42, we see an example of this in the story of two sisters, Martha and Mary. When Jesus visits their home, Martha immediately starts preparing everything to make Him feel welcome. She is cooking, cleaning, and making sure everything is perfect. Mary, on the other hand, chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him teach.

Martha gets upset and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But instead, Jesus says something surprising. He tells Martha that while she is “anxious and troubled about many things,” Mary has chosen “the better part,” which won’t be taken away from her. Jesus isn’t saying that Martha’s work is bad; after all, serving others is important. But He reminds her that spending time with Him is even more important.

Distractions today might look different than they did in Martha’s time, but they’re just as real. Instead of cooking or cleaning, we’re often distracted by our phones, endless to-do lists, or the pressure to succeed in school, sports, or other activities. These distractions can make us feel like there’s no time for prayer, Mass, or quiet time with God. And sometimes, even when we do make time, our minds are still racing with thoughts about everything else we need to do.

It’s not that these things are bad. School, sports, and relationships are all important. Even relaxing with a good TV show or spending time on your favorite hobby can be good for you. But when these things crowd out time for God, they become a problem. Just like Martha, we can get so caught up in everything we think we “have to do” that we forget to simply be with Jesus. And when that happens, we might start to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or even disconnected from God.

God doesn’t ask us to give up all the things we enjoy or stop doing what’s important in our daily lives. But He does ask us to put Him first. That might sound like a big challenge, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in prayer every day or give up all your activities. It’s about finding balance and making small but intentional choices to prioritize your relationship with God.

For example, you could start or end your day with just five minutes of prayer. You could read a short passage from Scripture and think about how it relates to your life. Or you could take a moment to thank God for your blessings and ask Him to guide you through your day.

Even small changes like these can make a big difference. Over time, they help you build a habit of turning to God, even when life gets busy. And when you do face distractions, you can ask Jesus to help you refocus. Remember, He understands what it’s like to be human and experience daily challenges. He’s always ready to help you, but you need to make space in your life to hear His voice.

Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him. She recognized that nothing was more important than being in His presence. That’s the “better part” that Jesus invites all of us to choose. It doesn’t mean we stop everything else, but it does mean we learn to say no to the things that distract us from God and yes to the things that bring us closer to Him. This choice isn’t always easy, especially with so many things competing for our attention. But the more we practice, the easier it becomes.

When we put God first, everything else in our lives falls into place. We still have responsibilities and activities, but they don’t feel as overwhelming because we’re grounded in what really matters. By choosing the better part, like Mary, we open our hearts to a deeper relationship with Jesus. And that’s something that will never be taken away from us.

Small group discussions are a great way to help participants reflect on the lesson and share their thoughts. Encourage everyone to speak honestly and listen respectfully. Remind them there are no “wrong” answers—this is a chance to learn from each other. Use the questions below to guide the conversation. Allow time for thoughtful answers, and feel free to ask follow-up questions to keep the discussion going.

• What stood out to you the most in the story of Martha and Mary?
• Can you relate more to Martha or Mary in your own life? Why?
• What are some distractions that pull you away from spending time with God?
• How do you think Jesus would respond to the distractions you face today?
• Why do you think Mary’s choice was called “the better part”?
• What are some practical ways you can balance work, school, and prayer?
• How does spending time with God help you deal with stress and busyness?
• Have you ever felt like Martha—overwhelmed or anxious? How did you handle it?
• What role does prayer play in helping you refocus on God?
• How can you create more space in your life for quiet moments with Jesus?

This week, your challenge is to make time for Jesus every day, even when life gets busy. Think about Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet and how she chose to focus on Him instead of being distracted. You can do the same by setting aside just a few minutes each day to connect with God. It doesn’t have to be long or complicated—just something intentional.

Here are a few ways to get started. First, try starting or ending your day with five minutes of quiet prayer or reflection. You could also read a short Bible passage, like the story of Martha and Mary, and think about how it applies to your life. Another idea is to pick one moment during the day, like walking to class or before practice, to pause and thank God for your blessings. These small steps can help you focus on God and remind you to choose the better part, just like Mary.

Let’s close our time together with a prayer. This is a chance to quiet our hearts and focus on God, just like Mary did. As we pray, think about how you can make space for Jesus in your life this week.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being here with us today. We are grateful for the story of Martha and Mary and the reminder to focus on You. Help us to notice the distractions in our lives and to set them aside so we can spend time with You. Teach us to trust You and to find balance between our work and prayer.

Guide us this week to choose the better part, like Mary did. Help us to listen to Your voice and feel Your presence, even when life feels busy or overwhelming. Thank You for loving us and always inviting us to be close to You. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Themes

• Balance in Life: God wants us to balance work and prayer. Martha’s busy actions and Mary’s quiet listening remind us to prioritize time with Him. Both serving and spending time with God are important.
• Prioritizing God First: Jesus teaches us to put Him above everything else. Mary chose to focus on Him instead of being distracted. This shows the importance of making space for prayer and reflection.
• Listening to God: Mary listened closely to Jesus, showing the value of paying attention to His word. God speaks to us in Scripture, prayer, and silence. We need to take time to hear His voice.
• Avoiding Distractions: Martha was distracted by tasks and missed the chance to sit with Jesus. We can also get caught up in daily life and forget to connect with God. Choosing what matters most helps us grow spiritually.
• Making Time for Prayer: Mary shows how valuable it is to spend quiet moments with God. Prayer strengthens our faith and brings peace. Taking time to pray helps us stay connected to Him.
• Trusting in God’s Plan: Martha worried about doing everything perfectly, but Jesus reminded her what truly mattered. Trusting God helps us let go of unnecessary stress. Faith leads us to peace and calmness.
• The Value of Service: Martha’s work reminds us that serving others is important. Jesus didn’t criticize her actions but pointed to the need for balance. Serving with love is part of following Him.
• Choosing What Matters: Mary made the choice to focus on Jesus rather than tasks. This reminds us to reflect on what’s really important in life. Our relationship with God should always come first.
• Finding Peace in Faith: Jesus calmed Martha’s worries and helped her see the bigger picture. Faith helps us find peace in a busy world. Focusing on God brings clarity and calm.
• Living a Christ-Centered Life: This story shows how to keep Jesus at the center of everything. Both work and prayer have their place, but Jesus should always be our focus. This helps us live with purpose and joy.

Background Material

The story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42 is a well-known passage that speaks directly to the issue of distraction. In this story, Jesus visits the home of the two sisters. Martha becomes focused on preparing the meal and serving, while Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him.

When Martha complains, Jesus gently reminds her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”

This passage reflects the tension between action and contemplation, a theme found throughout Catholic teaching. Both service and prayer are good, but distractions can lead us to focus too much on one at the expense of the other. The Catholic faith teaches us to balance the two by keeping God at the center of our lives.

Distraction is a challenge for everyone, especially in our busy world. St. John Paul II spoke about the need for silence and prayer to combat the noise of daily life. He said, “Prayer can never be separated from action, but it must come first.” Like Mary, we are called to make time for Jesus, even when life feels overwhelming.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of the importance of focusing on God even at home. It states, “Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and a school for human enrichment. Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous — even repeated — forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one’s life.” (CCC 1657).

This connects with the story of Martha and Mary, who invite Jesus into their home. It’s a reminder that our homes and lives should be places where we welcome Christ, not just with our actions, but with our hearts.

The distractions Martha faced are not unique to her time. Today, distractions take many forms: social media, work, school, or even the constant rush of daily tasks. While these things are not bad on their own, they can take up so much time and energy that they leave little room for prayer, Mass, or time with God. Jesus’ response to Martha teaches us to slow down and focus on what truly matters: our relationship with Him.

Catholic teaching also emphasizes the importance of contemplation, as shown in Mary’s example. St. Teresa of Avila, a Doctor of the Church, wrote extensively about the value of quiet prayer and turning away from distractions to focus on God’s presence. She explained that it is in stillness and prayer that we encounter Christ most deeply.

This lesson fits into Catholic teaching by encouraging young people to identify and overcome distractions that pull them away from God. It helps them understand that while work and responsibilities are important, their relationship with Jesus must come first. By following Mary’s example and making time for prayer, they can find balance and grow in faith.

In the end, the story of Martha and Mary reminds us that Jesus calls us to choose the “better part.” This means setting aside distractions and focusing on Him, trusting that everything else will fall into place when we make Him our priority.

Music Suggestions

• I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say by The Hillbilly Thomists
• Rest by Matt Maher
• Word of God Speak by MercyMe

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

Looking for more ways to engage your students or youth group? Visit our page, Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections, for free resources. You’ll find a variety of lesson plans and reflections designed to inspire and deepen faith.

These resources are easy to use and cover many topics relevant to today’s youth. Whether you’re a teacher, catechist, or youth minister, you’ll find helpful ideas to support your ministry. Explore now and discover lessons that connect with young hearts and minds while bringing them closer to God.