Who Do You Belong To? Lesson Plan

The Ridiculous Belonging Bureau

Before the session, prepare several index cards with harmless, ridiculous traits or preferences. Examples include:

• Enjoys breakfast food
• Can make a strange sound
• Owns mismatched socks
• Likes rainy days
• Has talked to an animal
• Can do a dramatic pose
• Would visit the moon
• Likes something spicy
• Knows a useless fact
• Has lost a water bottle
• Would name a pet “Potato”
• Can pretend to be a robot

Place the cards in a container. Set out paper plates or large sticky notes, markers, tape, and optional streamers.

Tell the group that you are the director of the newly created Ridiculous Belonging Bureau. The Bureau’s job is to create clubs that have never existed before. Unfortunately, its rules are disorganized, its budget is mostly paper plates, and every new club must be approved immediately.

Give each person one card. Ask everyone to move around the room and find two or three people whose cards could somehow fit together. Their connections do not need to make sense. Encourage silly explanations.

For example, someone who enjoys breakfast food, someone who can act like a robot, and someone who would visit the moon might form the Intergalactic Pancake Robot Society.

Once small groups form, give them three minutes to create:

• A ridiculous club name
• A five-second greeting involving a sound and a movement
• A paper-plate club badge
• One welcoming membership statement beginning with: “You can belong if…”

The movement should be safe and should not require touching. Let each club come to the front, announce its name, display its badge, and perform its greeting. Encourage enthusiastic applause after every presentation.

Next, announce a Bureau Emergency: there are too many clubs, and they must merge. Pair two clubs together. Give each combined group two minutes to invent a new name and greeting that includes something from both original clubs.

After they present, announce one final emergency. Every club must now combine into a single group. Give everyone three minutes to create one enormous club name and one greeting that the entire room can perform together. The final club must have only one membership requirement:

Everyone is welcome.

Perform the final greeting together. If you want a festive ending, toss a few crepe-paper streamers into the air and declare the club officially approved by the Ridiculous Belonging Bureau.

• What helped you feel included in your first small club?
• What happened when two very different clubs had to become one?
• Was it easier to belong when the membership rule became “Everyone is welcome”? Why?
• Can people belong to the same group while having different personalities, interests, and gifts?
• What makes belonging to a real group feel safe and meaningful?
• How can a group unintentionally make someone feel left out?

That game was ridiculous, but it showed us something important. We belong to many different groups, and every group has something that connects its members. Sometimes it is an activity or interest. Sometimes it is a shared experience. We do not have to be exactly alike to belong together. Our differences can make a community more interesting

Read the gospel:

John 17:11B-19 (Keep Them Safe) – the Gospel Reading for the 7th Sunday of Easter – Year B

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.

When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.

As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

John 17:11B-19

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is praying for his followers. He knows that he will soon return to the Father, and he is thinking about the people he loves. He knows they will face challenges, confusion, temptation, and opposition. Jesus does not want them to face those things alone, so he asks the Father to protect and guide them.

Jesus is also praying for us. Even though we were not standing beside the first disciples, we are his followers too. His prayer reminds us that we belong to him. We are not forgotten, unwanted, or left on our own. God knows us, loves us, and wants to keep us close.

Think for a moment about what it means to belong. You might belong to a family, a group of friends, a school, a team, a club, a parish, or a youth group. Belonging usually means that you are connected to other people. You have a place. You are recognized and valued. The group may support you, but it may also expect something from you.

Belonging to God is even deeper. You do not earn your place in God’s family by being popular, talented, successful, or perfect. God’s love is not a prize for people who never make mistakes. You belong to God because he created you, loves you, and calls you to follow him.

• How does it make you feel to know that you belong to God?
• Is it comforting, surprising, difficult to believe, or something else?
• When is it easiest for you to remember that God cares about you?
• When is it hardest?

God is not distant or lonely. Christians believe in one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is a communion of perfect love. The Father loves the Son, the Son receives and returns that love, and the Holy Spirit unites them. God invites us to share in that life of love.

That means belonging to God is not only about having a label such as “Christian” or “Catholic.” It is about living in a relationship with God. Like every healthy relationship, that connection grows when we spend time together, listen, speak honestly, trust, and remain faithful.

We strengthen our relationship with God when we pray, receive the sacraments, listen to Scripture, participate in the Church, serve others, and make choices rooted in love. We also grow closer to God when we admit that we need help and allow other people to support us.

• How is belonging to God similar to belonging to your family?
• How is it different?
• What helps you feel that you belong in your parish or faith community?
• What could we do to help someone else feel welcomed?
• How can we strengthen the bonds of love within God’s family?

Jesus also prays that his followers may be one. This does not mean that everyone must have the same personality, interests, culture, or opinions. Christian unity means that we remain joined together by God’s love and truth. We learn to listen, forgive, include others, and work through disagreements without treating people as enemies.

Jesus then says that his followers do not belong to the world. He is not saying that the earth, our bodies, school, work, technology, sports, or ordinary life are automatically bad. God created the world, and there is much in it that is beautiful and good. Jesus sends us into the world to love people and serve them.

The danger comes when something in the world begins to control us or takes God’s place in our hearts. Popularity can become more important than kindness. Possessions can become more important than generosity. Social media can begin to determine how we see ourselves. Achievement can make us believe that our worth depends on winning, grades, awards, or attention. A group of friends can pressure us to act against what we know is right.

These things may begin as ordinary parts of life. The problem comes when we feel that we cannot be happy, accepted, or valuable without them. We might start changing ourselves to gain approval. We might ignore someone who needs us because helping would be inconvenient. We might hide our faith because we are afraid of being judged. We might keep returning to a habit even though we know it is pulling us away from God.

• What pressures compete for the attention of young people today?
• What might tempt someone to place popularity, possessions, or success before God?
• How can you tell when something good has become too important?
• Have you ever felt pressured to become someone you are not?
• What can help you make a faithful choice when everyone else seems to be choosing differently?

Jesus does not ask the Father to remove his followers from the world. Instead, he asks the Father to protect them while they live in it. We are called to participate in everyday life without allowing harmful influences to control us. We can learn, work, play, create, compete, use technology, enjoy friendships, and pursue goals while still remembering that our deepest identity comes from God.

When you feel yourself being pulled away from God, pause and ask: “Is this helping me become more loving, honest, faithful, and free?” You can pray for strength, step away from a harmful situation, set a limit, replace an unhealthy habit, or ask someone for help.

You do not have to make every difficult choice alone. You can speak with a parent, guardian, catechist, youth minister, teacher, priest, counselor, or trusted friend. Asking for help is not a sign of weak faith. It can be one of the ways God protects and guides you.

• Who are the trusted people you can ask for help?
• What is one influence you may need to release, limit, or replace?
• What is one practice that could help you remain close to God?
• How can you help another person remember that they belong to God?

Jesus prays for your protection, your unity with others, your growth in truth, and your mission in the world. You belong to God, and that belonging gives you both security and purpose. You are loved, you are not alone, and you are sent into the world to share the love you have received.

Break into small groups for further reflection. Here are some discussion starters:

• What does it mean to you to be kept safe by God?
• How can we help each other feel protected in our community?
• What are some challenges we face in staying true to God in everyday life?
• How does belonging to God change the way we interact with the world?
• What practical steps can we take to strengthen our relationship with God?

This week, take some time each day to pray and think about how you are part of God’s family. Reflect on the different ways you feel connected to God. It could be through your family, friends, or moments alone.

While you think about these connections, also look for things in your life that might not be good for you. These could be habits, thoughts, or actions that pull you away from being close to God.

As you find these things, ask God to help keep you safe from them. Pray for strength to avoid or overcome these harmful elements.

Remember to also say thank you to God for making you a part of His family. Gratitude can make your bond with God stronger and help you see His love in your life more clearly.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for bringing us together today and for the lessons we’ve learned about belonging to Your loving family. Help us to remember Your protection and guidance as we go through our daily lives. Give us the strength to resist the temptations of the world that may lead us astray, and keep our hearts focused on Your truth and love. We are grateful for Your care and ask for Your continued presence in our lives.

Amen.

Themes in this Lesson Plan

• Safety in God’s protection – The lesson highlights how Jesus prays for our safety and protection, emphasizing that we are under God’s care and are kept from harm through His name.
• Belonging to God’s family – This theme explores the idea that we are not just individuals; we are part of a larger, divine family. It encourages reflecting on our deep connection with God and the security that comes from this spiritual belonging.
• Navigating worldly influences – The lesson discusses the challenges of living in a world with values that often conflict with Christian teachings. It helps youth understand the importance of discerning these influences and choosing paths that align with their faith.
• Community and support in faith – It emphasizes the role of the Christian community in supporting each member. The lesson encourages forming bonds within the church and the broader Christian community, enhancing a sense of unity and mutual support.
• Spiritual growth and personal responsibility – The focus here is on personal development through faith. The lesson encourages taking active steps to grow spiritually, such as prayer and seeking guidance, while also taking responsibility for one’s actions and choices in light of Christian teachings.

Background Material

John 17:11B-19, holds significance in Catholic teaching as it offers insight into Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and believers. This passage captures a moment where Jesus prays to the Father, asking for the protection and unity of his followers.

Jesus begins his prayer by addressing God as “Holy Father,” emphasizing the sacred nature of the relationship between God and His children.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us

When we say “our” Father, we recognize first that all his promises of love announced by the prophets are fulfilled in the new and eternal covenant in his Christ: we have become “his” people and he is henceforth “our” God. This new relationship is the purely gratuitous gift of belonging to each other: we are to respond to “grace and truth” given us in Jesus Christ with love and faithfulness.

CCC 2787

Jesus asks the Father to keep his disciples in His name, highlighting the importance of being united in God’s identity and purpose. This reflects Catholic teaching on the unity of believers in Christ, as members of one body, the Church.

Moreover, Jesus acknowledges his role in protecting and guarding his disciples while he was physically present with them on earth. He mentions the fulfillment of Scripture, indicating that his actions are in accordance with God’s divine plan. This aligns with Catholic doctrine, which emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through Jesus Christ.

Jesus then expresses his imminent departure from the world but assures his disciples of his continued presence through his words. He desires for them to share in his joy completely, indicating the transformative power of faith and communion with Christ. This underscores the Catholic belief in the joy and peace that come from a deep relationship with Jesus.

Furthermore, Jesus acknowledges the hostility that his disciples may face from the world due to their allegiance to him. He distinguishes between belonging to God and belonging to the world, emphasizing the need for his followers to prioritize their allegiance to God over worldly attachments. This echoes Catholic teaching on detachment from worldly desires and the primacy of God in one’s life.

Jesus prays for the consecration of his disciples in truth, highlighting the importance of living in accordance with God’s Word. This reflects Catholic teaching on the sanctification of believers through the truth revealed in Scripture and tradition. The emphasis on truth aligns with the Catholic belief in the importance of moral and spiritual integrity.

Finally, Jesus commissions his disciples to continue his mission in the world, just as he was sent by the Father. This highlights the role of believers as witnesses to the Gospel message, called to proclaim the truth and love of Christ to the world. This reflects Catholic teaching on the missionary nature of the Church and the call to evangelize all nations.

The Gospel reading from John 17:11B-19 offers insights into Jesus’ prayer for his disciples and believers, emphasizing themes of unity, protection, joy, detachment from the world, truth, and mission. These themes are foundational to Catholic teaching and provide guidance for believers in their journey of faith.

Music Suggestions

• We Belong to You
• You Have Called Us
• Lord I Need You
• Your Peace Will Make Us One
• Remind Me Who I Am