Children, Catholic Home School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Catholic Home School
Children, Catholic Home School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Catholic Home School
July 26, 2026
17th Sunday of Year A
ST. JOSEPH’S CORNER (2:12) – What’s the most valuable thing in the world? A toy? A treasure chest? In this short but powerful episode of Catechism for Kids, we learn about The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price from Matthew 13:45–46, where Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God is the most precious treasure we could ever find!
Liturgy of the Word
↩️ ↪️ Know Before You Go
ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE in Westlake Village, California (2026)
Kingdom Value and Sacrifice
Q: What makes God’s kingdom worth total sacrifice?
A: The kingdom of heaven is compared to a treasure buried in a field and a valuable pearl where the finder experiences such joy they sell everything to obtain it, demonstrating the kingdom’s supreme worth above all possessions.
Practical Application of Values
Q: How do core values translate into difficult everyday decisions?
A: Valuing honesty, friendship, and sharing requires choosing to let a friend play with a new toy despite risk of it being damaged or broken, exemplifying the practice of giving up less important things for what truly matters.
Teaching Method and Core Message
Q: What is the central teaching of Matthew 13’s parables?
A: Jesus uses parables in Matthew 13 to teach that the kingdom of heaven is the most valuable treasure, requiring believers to set aside unimportant things to accept God’s gift of the kingdom.
↩️ ↪️ Priests for Life
BIG AL & FR. JOE: Does Big Al find the buried treasure? (2026)
Finding the Kingdom of God
Q: Where is the kingdom of God located and how do we access it?
A: The kingdom of God is found within ourselves by looking inside our hearts right here and now, not in external locations, according to Fr. Joe’s teaching that the map to discover this treasure requires going inward.
Practical Benefits of the Kingdom
Q: What specific benefits does the kingdom of God provide in daily life?
A: The kingdom of God delivers peace, love, joy, comfort, friendship, and goodness, functioning as practical solutions when we feel scared (provides safety), lonely (provides love), bored (provides joy), and sad (provides comfort).
Nature of the Treasure
Q: What makes the kingdom of God the ultimate treasure?
A: Fr. Joe describes the kingdom of God as the best treasure ever, a treasure buried by God that surpasses all other treasures by providing comprehensive emotional and spiritual support across all life situations.
GOSPELWEEKLIES.COM
Gospel Quiz
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QUESTIONS
Q: What makes the Kingdom of Heaven valuable enough to sacrifice everything? A: The Kingdom possesses such incredible goodness and beauty that it motivates people to give up everything to possess it, similar to how the merchant sells all possessions to buy the pearl of great price and the man sells everything for the treasure buried in a field.
Q: What specific things might block a deeper relationship with God? A: Common distractions include sports tournaments, sleeping in, and other activities that stand in the way of prioritizing time with God and experiencing the Kingdom’s fullness.
Q: What do the parables teach about who receives the Kingdom of God? A: The Kingdom belongs to those willing to give up everything to love God in return, recognizing that obtaining the most valuable treasure requires letting go of all other possessions.
Q: What reflection question do these parables pose to individuals? A: The parables challenge individuals to identify what in their own life is standing in the way of fully embracing the Kingdom of Heaven and what they need to sacrifice to experience it.
Religion Teacher
17th Sunday of Year A
Infographic generated by AI for TWTW website.
Non-profits have permission to use it in their ministry.
Videos for Children
Animated Bible Stories (Saddleback Kids)
Bible Crafts (Ministry to Children)
Object Lesson Sermons (Ministry to Children)
17th Sunday of Year A
What is Your Treasure?
In this message, we will look at what things we consider valuable in our lives. Often the “treasures” that the world seeks after are not the ones that God considers worth pursuing. Focusing on the Kingdom of Heaven means recognizing that God’s promises are better than anything we might have on earth.
Stories for Children
- What are some of the dangerous things Jake likes to do for fun?
- What happened when Jake tried to brake his skateboard at the busy intersection?
- What three everyday examples of “risk” did Jake give to Sally?
- According to the story, what two parables did Jesus share about the Kingdom of God?
- Sally says that friends, spending money, and tests “don’t kill you.” How is the risk Jake took on his skateboard different from the risk of taking a school test?
- The story mentions that followers of Jesus might risk family, friendships, or jobs. Why do you think putting Jesus first can sometimes feel like a risk?
- Jake took a risk just for the “rushing feeling of danger.” Why were the farmer and the merchant willing to take a risk? What was their “prize”?
- Have you ever taken a risk that made you feel scared or excited? Was it a safe risk or a dangerous one?
