Opening Game
Pass the Emotion
- Materials Needed: A soft ball or beanbag.
- Group Size: Ideal for 5-15 participants.
- How to Play:
- Everyone sits in a circle.
- One person starts with the ball and says an emotion, like “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” or “confused.”
- They then pass the ball to someone else, who must describe a situation that could cause that emotion.
- After explaining, the person with the ball says another emotion and passes the ball to the next person.
Example:
- Person 1: “Sad” (passes the ball)
- Person 2: “I’m sad when I lose a game.” Then they say, “Excited,” and pass the ball.
Follow up with a few questions:
- What emotion was easiest for you to think of a situation for, and why?
- Was there any emotion that was difficult to talk about?
- How do you usually deal with difficult emotions like sadness or anger?
- Have you ever felt confused about why something bad happened? How did you cope?
Scripture Reading
Here are some words from Jesus about bad news:
Luke 13:1-9 (Jesus Reacts to the News) – the Gospel Reading for the 3rd Sunday of Lent – Year C
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”Luke 13:1-9
Discussion
There are a couple of references in this gospel to recent news which people must have been talking about. These were the headlines of the day. We don’t know many details about these events, but they were distressing to the people at the time.
The Galileans who were mentioned had probably traveled to Jerusalem to worship God at the temple and offer sacrifices to him. While in the act of worshiping, they may have been slaughtered by Pilate’s men for some infraction. Pilate was known to be a brutal ruler. Thus their blood became mixed with the blood of the animals being sacrificed.
So the question asked of Jesus is about why these people, who were clearly observant Jews, would be murdered in this manner. It might also have been an attempt to make Jesus talk about the Roman occupation. The people of the time were looking for a Messiah who would be a military leader and drive out the Romans. But Jesus uses this opportunity to teach us instead.
The second incident is mentioned by Jesus. It must have also been well known news. 18 people died when a tower collapsed. They weren’t doing anything evil. Why should such a terrible thing befall innocent victims?
Jesus makes clear that distressful events in our lives are not a result of sinfulness. These people did not do anything to deserve this pain. God was not punishing them for something. Instead he takes the opportunity to point out that we have no way of knowing what happen to us today. So we must always be in a right relationship with God.
Hopefully will not physically die today, we might encounter evil and suffering. And turning away from God when bad things happen to us is very harmful. So how should we respond?
First, if there is some action we can take, then we should take it. If the pain is caused by another person, we can take action. One way is to speak up and tell them that what they are doing is causing harm, either to ourselves or someone else. If that is not appropriate, we can ask a trusted adult or friend for advice.
Next, we might have to forgive another person. This is really difficult. But if we turn our pain into revenge or resentment, then we are just passing our own pain along to someone else. That makes us part of the problem instead of the solution.
Whether the cause of our distress is another person or an accident or something else, we need to ask God for help. Talk to Jesus about what is happening. Remember that he suffered a horrible death even though he was completely innocent. Picture him sitting next to you and tell him how you feel. See his compassionate eyes telling you that he understands.
Then ask Jesus to turn your sorrow into something good for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps you will be motivated to help others who are going through something similar. Maybe you will want to speak up for those who can’t defend themselves from evil. If nothing else, you can pray every day for a specific cause or group of people.
Small Group Reflection Questions
After the main discussion, participants will break into smaller groups to explore the themes of suffering and evil more personally and deeply. This time allows for more intimate conversations where everyone can share their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment.
- Can you share a time when you faced a difficult situation? How did it make you feel, and how did you deal with it?
- Did you feel closer to God during this time, or did you struggle with your faith?
- Why do you think God allows suffering and evil in the world?
- How can we find meaning in our suffering? Can it help us grow closer to God or others?
- How can our faith and the Church community help us during tough times?
- Have you ever felt supported by someone in your church community when you were going through something difficult?
- Is it hard to forgive others when they cause us pain? Why or why not?
- How can forgiveness be a part of healing from suffering?
After the discussions, bring everyone back together to share insights or reflections from their small group conversations. This sharing can help build a sense of community and mutual support.
Challenge
Pick a recent time when you encountered pain and suffering. It could be a personal experience like dealing with illness, loss, or a difficult relationship. Reflect on how this experience affected you emotionally and spiritually.
If a personal experience doesn’t come to mind, think of a group of people in the world currently facing suffering, such as those affected by war, famine, or a natural disaster. Consider their struggles and how they cope with the challenges they face.
Take time each day to pray about the situation. Ask God for guidance and strength for those who are suffering. Seek His wisdom to understand how you can make a positive difference, whether through actions, donations, or spreading awareness. Pray for healing and comfort for those affected, and for your own strength and courage to help where you can.
Ask God to help you turn these difficult situations into opportunities for growth, compassion, and action. By engaging in prayer and seeking ways to help, we can bring hope and love into these challenging circumstances.
Prayer
Conclude the session by inviting everyone to offer their personal petitions, asking for God’s guidance, healing, and comfort for themselves and others who are suffering. Encourage participants to voice specific concerns or intentions they have on their hearts, whether for themselves, loved ones, or people affected by global issues.
After everyone has had a chance to share their petitions, lead the group in praying the Our Father together, uniting in this prayer to ask for God’s help, guidance, and the strength to do His will in responding to the challenges and suffering around us. This prayer helps us to seek God’s presence and grace in all circumstances, trusting in His love and mercy.
More Resources
More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections
For more information, see https://young-catholics.com/14630/lesson-plan-on-suffering-and-evil/