Opening Game
To start this lesson, play the game Animal Sounds. This is a fun and simple game where players use animal noises to find their partner. It gets everyone moving and laughing while also introducing the topic of animals in our lives. Make sure everyone understands the rules before starting. After playing, use the follow-up questions below to get the group thinking about the role animals play in our happiness. You can find the full instructions for the game here: Animal Sounds Game.
Follow-up Questions:
- Was it easy or difficult to find your partner?
- Who was the best at making their animal sound? The worst?
- What was your favorite animal in the room?
Animals bring a lot of fun and joy to our lives. Whether it’s a pet we love, a favorite wild animal, or just a funny creature we’ve seen, animals make life more interesting. We give them names, play with them, and even talk to them. Some animals, like pets, become part of our families. They bring us comfort, companionship, and happiness.
Because of this, many people wonder what happens to animals after they die. We might ask if we will see our pets in heaven again one day. If heaven is a place of happiness, wouldn’t it include the things that made us happy on earth? It’s a good question, and one that many people have asked. But Jesus teaches us that heaven is more than just a perfect version of life on earth. It is something even greater.
Today, we will talk about the question, Are there pets in heaven? This will help us think about what heaven really is. It is good to wonder about these things and to ask questions. The more we understand about heaven, the more we can trust in God’s plan for us. Let’s see what Jesus teaches about eternal life and what that means for everything we love, including our pets.
Scripture Reading
Luke 20:27-38 or Luke 20:27,34-38 (Jesus Talks about Heaven) – the Gospel Reading for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward [and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.”]
Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out ‘Lord, ‘ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”Luke 20:27-38 or Luke 20:27,34-38
Discussion
Are There Pets in Heaven?
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine heaven. Think about what you might see. Are there bright colors, beautiful landscapes, or something completely different? What do you hear? Maybe music, laughter, or the voices of loved ones. What about smells and tastes? Imagine your favorite foods or a fresh, clean breeze. Now reach out—what do you feel? Maybe the warmth of sunlight, the softness of grass, or something unknown.
Now, open your eyes. Each of us has our own idea of heaven. Maybe you pictured family and friends, pets, or favorite places. It’s natural to think about heaven in a way that makes sense to us. But today’s Gospel reminds us that heaven may not be what we expect. Jesus tells us that the resurrection will bring something new—something beyond our imagination.
What Did Jesus Say About Heaven?
In today’s reading from Luke, some people called the Sadducees asked Jesus a tricky question. They didn’t believe in the resurrection, so they tried to make the idea sound silly. They asked about a woman who had been married seven times because of an old Jewish law. When she and her husbands were resurrected, they wanted to know whose wife she would be.
Jesus answered that heaven is not just an extension of life on earth. He explained that in the resurrection, people will not marry like they do now. They will be like angels, fully alive in a new way. He reminded them that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. This means that those who belong to God will live forever with Him.
This is an important lesson for us. Sometimes, we try to picture heaven based on what makes us happy now. We think about seeing family, enjoying our favorite things, or even having pets in heaven. But Jesus teaches that heaven is not just about making us happy—it’s about being with God.
Are Pets in Heaven?
This brings us to a question many people ask: Are there pets in heaven? If you love your pet, you might hope the answer is yes. Pets bring joy, comfort, and companionship. They are part of our lives, and losing them can be very painful. It makes sense that we would want to see them again.
The Bible doesn’t give a clear answer. Some saints and theologians, like St. Thomas Aquinas, taught that animals do not have eternal souls like humans do. If that’s true, then they would not be part of heaven in the same way we are. But other parts of Scripture suggest that all creation will be made new. In Romans 8, St. Paul writes that the whole world is waiting for redemption. Revelation 21 talks about a new heaven and a new earth. Could this mean animals will be there? Maybe.
We don’t know exactly how it will work, but we do know this: Heaven will be better than anything we can imagine. If pets in heaven are part of God’s perfect plan, then they will be there. If not, we will still have everything we need to be completely happy.
What is Heaven Really About?
It’s easy to focus on what we want heaven to be like. But the real question is: What is heaven really about? Jesus teaches that heaven is about perfect joy in God’s presence. Nothing else will matter because we will be completely filled with His love.
If we think, “I can’t be happy in heaven without my pet,” then we might not be seeing the bigger picture. Our love for pets is real and good, but it is small compared to the love we will experience with God. When we are fully united with Him, we won’t feel any loss or sadness. We won’t need anything else to make us happy—He will be enough.
Trusting in God’s Plan
It’s okay to wonder about these things. It’s okay to hope we will see our pets in heaven. But more than anything, we need to trust in God’s plan. He knows what will bring us the greatest joy. Heaven is not about holding on to what we love now—it’s about discovering something even greater.
So instead of focusing on whether there are pets in heaven, focus on getting there. Love God with all your heart. Follow Jesus. Live with faith and hope. Because no matter what heaven looks like, it will be more amazing than we can ever imagine.
Small Group Reflection Questions
Small group discussions help everyone share their thoughts and learn from each other. Encourage youth to listen respectfully and allow everyone a chance to speak. There are no wrong answers, but challenge them to think about what Jesus teaches. Guide the conversation toward a deeper understanding of heaven and our relationship with God.
- What do you imagine heaven will be like?
- How does Jesus’ teaching in Luke 20:27-38 challenge our ideas about heaven?
- Why do you think people want to know if there are pets in heaven?
- What does it mean that heaven is about being with God more than anything else?
- If heaven is different from life on earth, what should we focus on now to prepare for it?
- How can trusting in God’s plan help us when we don’t have all the answers?
- What does the idea of resurrection mean to you?
- How does knowing that heaven is beyond our imagination help us grow in faith?
Challenge
This week, take some time in prayer to think about your image of heaven again. Picture all the things that make it feel wonderful to you. Then, one by one, offer them back to God. Thank Him for each one, and then tell Him that, even without it, you trust that being with Him will be enough. If you imagine seeing loved ones, pets, or favorite things, let God know you are grateful for them. Then, place them in His hands and say, “Lord, I trust that You are all I need.”
If some things feel too hard to give up, that’s okay. Tell God honestly and ask Him for the grace to trust Him more. Letting go is a process, and He understands. Be patient with yourself. Remember that God delights in the love you have for His creation. He is not asking you to love less—He is asking you to love Him most. In heaven, nothing will be missing because He will fill you with perfect joy.
Prayer
To end, take a moment to pray the Suscipe, a beautiful prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola. This prayer is all about trust. It is about giving everything to God—our hopes, our dreams, and even the things we love most—because we know that He is enough. Praying this can be hard, but it is also freeing. When we let go and trust God completely, we find true peace.
As you pray, try to mean the words as much as you can. If some parts feel difficult, ask God to help you grow in trust. He knows your heart and loves you deeply. Let this prayer be your way of saying, “Lord, I am Yours, and I know that You will take care of me.”
You can find a printable copy of the Suscipe prayer here: Suscipe Prayer – Take, Lord, Receive. Pray it slowly, and let the words sink in. Then, rest in God’s presence, knowing that He is enough.
See more resources for the Are There Pets in Heaven? Lesson Plan on Resurrection at https://young-catholics.com/18205/pets-in-heaven-lesson-plan-resurrection/