JAN 5, 2025
Homeschool Resources Sunday Readings
Homeschool Resources Sunday Readings
- CHILDREN’S LITURGY
- KID FRIENDLY INSIGHTS IN SMALL STEPS
- CATECHIST Resources
- Handouts AND Activities
- READ-ALOUDS
- SERMON LESSONS
Prayer
Table
Symbols
GOSPEL
Star: The star represents the star that the wise men followed to find baby Jesus.
Camel: A camel symbolizes the wise men’s journey to find baby Jesus and reminds us to be seekers of truth and God’s light.
Gifts: The gifts symbolize the offerings that the wise men brought to baby Jesus and remind us to share with others.
Three Wise Men: These men represent the wise men who followed the star and found baby Jesus, and how we can follow the light of God in our lives.
1ST READING
Sun: The sun represents the light of God, which brings happiness and goodness to the world.
Gifts: The gifts symbolize the love and care that God has for us, just like the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus.
People Holding Hands: This symbolizes people coming together from different parts of the world to worship God.
2ND READING
Open Book: An open book represents the mystery of Christ that has been revealed, which was once hidden.
Family: A family symbolizes how everyone can become part of God’s family through the mystery of Christ.
Epiphany - YEAR C
Mary Jo Cole
SOURCE: Mary Jo Cole’s YouTube Page
Epiphany - YEAR C
Father Edward
SOURCE: Holy Family FdL Youtube Page
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Father Glenn
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Big Al & Father Joe
SOURCE: Most Sacred Heart Parish, Eureka, MO
Children’s Message (1-5-25) – Big Al & the Unopened Gift
Mindful Presence
Q: Why is opening presents important according to Big Al and Fr. Joe?
A: Opening presents is crucial because it represents being present in life’s daily moments, contrasting with the tendency to be distracted by phones, which can lead to unfulfilled relationships and missing important interactions with family members.
Digital Detox
Q: How can excessive phone use affect relationships?
A: Spending too much time on phones can result in unnoticed family members (mom, dad, sister) and unfulfilled relationships, emphasizing the need to balance digital engagement with real-life interactions.
Appreciating Daily Moments
Q: What’s the key message about experiencing life’s daily moments?
A: The message stresses the importance of being present and mindful in everyday life, encouraging viewers to actively participate in their surroundings and relationships rather than being constantly absorbed in digital devices.
GOSPEL
The Story of the Three Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12)
- The Wise Men: A long time ago, three wise men saw a special star in the sky. They were smart men who studied the stars and knew this special star meant a new king was born.
- The Journey: The wise men wanted to find this new king, so they followed the star. They traveled a long way, riding on camels, until they got to a place called Bethlehem.
- Meeting King Herod: The wise men thought King Herod, the ruler of that place, would know where to find the new king. King Herod wasn’t a nice man and didn’t like the idea of a new king, but he pretended to want to worship him too.
- Finding Baby Jesus: The star led the wise men to a stable where they found baby Jesus with his mom, Mary, and his dad, Joseph. They knew this was the new king they were looking for.
- Giving Gifts: The wise men gave baby Jesus special gifts: gold, because he was a king, frankincense, because it smelled nice and was used in church, and myrrh, which was a medicine to help people feel better.
- God’s Protection: God sent an angel to talk to the wise men in their dreams. The angel told them to go home a different way so that King Herod couldn’t find baby Jesus.
Lessons for Growing in Catholic Faith:
- Follow the Light of God: Just like the wise men followed the star, we can follow the light of God in our lives by learning about Jesus and trying to be like him.
- Be Generous: The wise men were kind and gave baby Jesus special gifts. We can be generous too, by sharing with others and helping those in need.
- Protect Others: The wise men listened to God’s angel and helped keep baby Jesus safe. We can protect others by standing up for those who need help and being kind to everyone.
1ST READING
Isaiah 60:1-6
- Arise, Shine: Isaiah tells us that God’s light is coming, and it is a light that brings goodness and happiness. When we live in God’s light, we can shine like a bright light for others to see.
- People Coming Together: When God’s light shines, people from all over the world will see it and want to come together to worship God. Just like the three wise men in the story we talked about, people will travel from faraway places to find this light.
- God’s Love and Care: Isaiah says that when we live in God’s light, nations will bring their gifts, just like the wise men did for baby Jesus. This shows us how much God loves and cares for us.
- Peace and Joy: Isaiah talks about how things that were once difficult or sad can become beautiful and happy when we have God’s light in our lives. When we follow God, we can find peace and joy.
Lessons for Growing in Catholic Faith:
- Be a Light to Others: Isaiah tells us to shine like a bright light so that others can see God’s love in us. By being kind and loving like Jesus, we can be a light to others.
- Bring Gifts to God: Just like the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus, we can give gifts to God by using our talents and sharing our love with others.
- Find Peace and Joy in God: When we live in God’s light, we can find happiness, even when things are difficult. By praying and trusting in God, we can have peace and joy in our hearts.
2ND READING
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
- God’s Plan Revealed: In this passage, Paul talks about how God has shared a special plan with him. This plan was not known before, but God wanted Paul to tell others about it.
- The Mystery of Christ: The special plan that Paul talks about is the mystery of Christ. This mystery is that people from all over the world, not just the Jewish people, can become part of God’s family.
- Everyone is Included: Paul says that this mystery has been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. That means everyone, no matter where they come from, can be part of God’s plan.
Lessons for Growing in Catholic Faith:
- Learn About God’s Plan: Paul tells us that God has a special plan for the world, and we can learn about it by listening to the apostles and prophets in the Bible.
- Be Part of God’s Family: The mystery that Paul talks about is that everyone, no matter where they come from, can become part of God’s family.
Epiphany - YEAR C
Three Wise Men
Hey there, my fellow little friends! It’s me again, Ana. Today I want to share with you a really interesting story from the Bible called “The Boy Jesus in the Temple” (Luke 2:41-52). It’s about when Jesus was a kid, just like us!
The Wise Men’s Journey
Hi, everyone! It’s me, Ana! I don’t know about you, but I really like this time we have together. Today, I want to tell you about one of my favorite stories in the Bible. They even made a Christmas song about it called “We Three Kings.” It’s about three wise men who visited baby Jesus. It’s a great story because it shows how we can be good Catholic kids today!
Following the Star
In Matthew 2:1-12, the Bible talks about the wise men who followed a star to find Jesus. They came from faraway countries. They saw a new star in the sky and knew it meant something special was happening. These wise men were very important people, like kings or maybe even scientists, and they studied stars and other things in the sky.
King Herod’s Plan
When they got to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, they went to see King Herod to ask about the baby. Herod was a bad king, and he didn’t like hearing about a new king being born. He wanted to find Jesus and do something terrible, but God had a plan.
God’s Guidance
God sent an angel to the wise men in a dream. The angel told them to go to Bethlehem and give Jesus gifts. They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is for kings, frankincense is like a special incense for church, and myrrh is a spice they used back then.
After they gave Jesus the gifts, God told them in another dream not to go back to King Herod. So they went home a different way, and Jesus was safe.
Being Good Catholic Kids Today
Now, you might be wondering, what does this story have to do with being a good Catholic kid? Well, I’ll tell you!
- Following the Light of God: Just like the wise men followed the star to find Jesus, we can follow the light of God to find our way. That means listening to our parents, teachers, and priests, and learning more about Jesus.
- Being Generous: The wise men were very generous with their gifts. We can be generous too! Maybe we can share our toys, help a friend with their homework, or give some of our allowance to the church collection.
- Protecting Others: The wise men protected Jesus by not going back to King Herod. We can protect others by standing up for kids who are being bullied, or by being kind to everyone, even if they’re different from us.
Remembering the Wise Men
Being a good Catholic kid today is a lot like being one of the wise men. We follow the light of God, we’re generous to others, and we protect people who need our help. So, the next time you hear about the three wise men visiting Jesus, remember how we can be like them in our everyday lives.
God bless you all, and have a great day!
These images above are the property of Good News Productions International and College Press Publishing who have granted THE WORD THIS WEEK permission to use them for educational and ministry use only. These images are covered using a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
SOURCE: Free Bible Images
Catechist
Magazine
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Wise Men
SOURCE: Edge Group – Lion Hudson
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The Religion Teacher
The Visit of the Wise Men
Animated Videos
OSV Family
Activities
Choose one of the following OUR SUNDAY VISITOR activities as a way to further reflect on the Sunday readings:
Activity 1: Stars of Family Wisdom – Revealing God’s presence through family insights.
The word epiphany means to reveal or to be manifest. What have you learned about God from your family? Cut star shapes out of white paper, one for each family member. Have family members write their responses to the question on the paper stars. Older family members can write for younger children. Hang the stars in your home as a reminder of God’s presence.
Activity 2: Epiphany Adventure – Seeking God’s manifestation in our surroundings.
Help your family experience a true epiphany. Spend time this week looking for God. Go out for a walk, or look for God in your home. See where God leads you.
Activity 3: Blessing Our Home – Celebrating God’s dwelling in our everyday lives.
Epiphany is a traditional time for the blessing of homes. It is a time to celebrate the fact that God can be found in our everyday environment. We know that we are part of the family of God and that God dwells in our home. Plan a blessing of your home. Use the following format: Read John 1:14 from the Bible. Then go in procession from room to room, blessing each room with holy water.
DISCUSSION:
What stops us from seeing God’s presence in our world today?
What helps us see God’s actions and presence in the world around us?
SOURCE: Our Sunday Visitor Life Long Catechesis
RELATED PAGES:
OSV Kids provides children’s books and an engaging monthly activity booklet, OSV Kids, to help little ones form a relationship with Jesus Christ that grows as they do.
OSV Podcasts is your place for conversation and connection. Discover a community of Catholic content producers committed to exploring Truth in a way that unites and invites.
Epiphany - YEAR C
Gospel Worksheet
Download 8 1/2 x 10 (PDF)
S.D.C. is a Catholic Society that works in the field of Catechesis and the spreading of the Word of God in different ways. READ MORE
SOURCE: SDC Sunday Liturgy Resources
Epiphany - YEAR C
Catholic Kids Bulletin
Download 4-pages (PDF)
The Kids’ Bulletins are a resource for Catholic kids who would like to have some fun while learning about the readings from the Sunday Mass every week. (Ordinary Form) They are made by a mom in Canada who is happy to share them with anyone who can use them to help learn or teach about the truth and beauty of the Faith.
SOURCE: Catholic Kids Bulletin
Epiphany - YEAR C
Catholic Mom
Download Activity (PDF)
Enjoy Catholic coloring pages, lesson plans, Mass worksheets, puzzles, and more to help you prepare for Sunday Mass. These activities, prepared by the Catholic Mom Sunday Gospel Team, are free for you to print and share with your family, classroom, or parish.
SOURCE: Catholic Mom
GOSPEL
The gospel speaks of those earnestly seeking the newborn king. Those searching are from outside the nation of Israel, that is the Gentiles. The magi represent the nations of the world seeking the light and are guided by a star. Interestingly, there were those who had already had been chosen and called by God and they felt that they had no need to search for this Messiah. King Herod feared for his throne, though his fear was unwarranted, given that Jesus was to be a different kind of king. There seems to be a truth about human nature and it that we can easily become locked into our own way of thinking and not allow the least bit of new light to enter into our lives. God is ever seeking to allow new light to seep into our lives in order to see God more clearly. The truth is we must make ourselves available to the light and seek unity among others from various nations, races and creeds. This is God’s will: unity.Today’s gospel presents us with Joseph having an experience, yet again, of God coming to him in a dream. You will recall that it was in a dream that God told Joseph to take Mary into his home and now he is instructed to protect Mary and Jesus by fleeing into Egypt. Joseph remains open to all of God’s commands even though they come in a dream-like fashion. Each person in a family has a dream for their life and for their family. Clearly the primary figure in this passage is Joseph and although he does not say a word, his actions speak loudly of his trust in God.
SOURCE: Markkula Center
1ST READING
In this passage the prophet Isaiah presents a vision of Jerusalem’s pending exaltation. He speaks to the fact that God’s light and glory are to be restored and that the people’s relationship with their God will be renewed. The “glory of the Lord” refers to God’s selfmanifestation, which is exactly what the word “Epiphany” means. The gloom of exile will be over and a new beginning is granted. The light given to the nation of Israel is to be a light for all the nations. There will be a unity restored.
SOURCE: Markkula Center
2ND READING
Saint Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus and proclaims boldly that Jesus Christ came to bring about unity among the peoples of the earth. It is through Jesus Christ that the God of Israel is made manifest to ALL peoples. Past generations only experienced that which separated people. Now through faith in Jesus Christ people can, if they wish, experience the greatness of unity. God chose and blessed Saint Paul with this ministry of preaching to the Gentiles.
SOURCE: Markkula Center
Epiphany - YEAR C
The Action Bible
Book of the Week
NO READ ALOUD IS AVAILABLE
Word of the Week
UNITY
Dear Children of the Earth
This enchanting and beautifully illustrated book begins with, as the title would lead you to understand, a letter from Mother Earth. In this letter, Mother Earth asks for help from her children everywhere. She writes to express her love for each and every child and asks for their love and appreciation in return. In her own words and with all of her heart, Mother Earth enfolds children with love and entrusts them with her protection. This love that Mother Earth expresses for her children very much parallels the love that God makes manifest for the whole world in the celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany. Mother Earth and God, our Loving Father, seek unity of love and a cooperation among peoples. The love is made manifest to the children of the earth by God’s loving creation, Mother Earth, and to be enjoyed and stewarded by all of the inhabitants of the earth. The truth being told in the Scriptures and in Dear Children of the Earth is that we are all Children of the Earth and as such are called to unity.
Think of how your room would be if you did not clean it or provide some order for it? Soon you would be stumbling over all kinds of things. This would be an example that visually allows you to see what happens when we do not care for something. If our environment is to provide for us, then we must care for it. Similarly, this is true of caring for one another and being in union with one another as the Children of God. Think of what it might be like to be isolated from one another, to live alone and have no one to talk to or listen to, no one to embrace or share things with.
Unity is what God wants for all of us. God intends for all of us to be connected to one another and to seek out all the similarities and uniqueness and to celebrate them, much like the beautiful colors of a multicolored tapestry.
Young Catholic Resources by Date
Follow That Star Lesson Plan
This Epiphany lesson plan, centered around Matthew 2:1-12, is designed to enlighten youth on the commitment of following Jesus, emphasizing the need to surrender wholly to Him and abandon any hindrances. The journey of the Magi serves as a powerful metaphor. Despite uncertainties and challenges, the Magi remained steadfast, symbolizing the perseverance required in our spiritual journey.
This story illustrates how giving our time, treasures, and selves, guided by faith, leads to a meaningful encounter with the divine. It encourages youth to view their life as a journey of faith, keeping their focus on Jesus, much like the Magi kept their eyes on the star.
St. Anselm’s Prayer
This prayer, invoking the spirit of Epiphany, seeks divine guidance in understanding and aligning with God’s desires. It expresses a deep yearning to know and find God, acknowledging that despite God’s gifts and creation, the seeker has yet to truly understand their purpose.
The prayer, attributed to St. Anselm, reflects on the human inability to seek or find God without divine intervention. It pleads for God to teach the heart to seek and find Him, emphasizing the desire to know God more deeply. The prayer connects with the Epiphany theme of seeking and discovering Christ, aspiring to bring gifts – not just physical, but of the heart and spirit – that are in harmony with God’s will.
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Sermon Lesson
SOURCE: Ministry to Children
Epiphany - YEAR C
Sermon 4 Kids
Seeking the Savior
OBJECTS: “Seeking the Savior Map”; Marker; Star stickers
(Make a simple map from your starting place to two other places in your room. This will be your “Seeking the Savior Map. Hide the star stickers somewhere in your room. Place a star sticker on your map for that place. Choose two other places where your map will take kids in your room. Then use symbols on your map to signify those two places, such as a book for a bookcase. After your map has three places on it, wad it up and unwad it to make it look more realistic.)
If we were planning to go visit someone in another town, we might first ask someone who knew how to get there to give us directions. They might give us some general directions and suggest the best roads to take. Another thing we might do is look at a map or use our GPS to show us exactly how to get where we want to go.
SOURCE: Sermon 4 Kids
Epiphany - YEAR C
Sermon Writer
Star Bright, Star Light
OBJECTS: Picture of the Big Dipper
Have you ever sat outside with a friend or your family and watched as the sky begins to darken, to see who could spot the first star? You must watch closely to be the one to see the first star appear. Soon after, many stars are twinkling in the sky. In fact, there are billions of stars in our galaxy.
Have you ever thought about what makes a star twinkle? A star sends out a straight beam of light, but movement in the air changes the path of the light, and causes the star to twinkle.
It is a special treat to sit outside at night and look at stars. Stars appear to be white, but if you look closely you will see that some stars are blue, yellow and red. And, some stars are very bright.There is one very bright star, the North Star, which guides travelers and sailors so they will always know in what direction they are going.Perhaps your parents or a friend can help you find the Big Dipper in the night sky. It looks like a large pan with a handle. The two stars at the front of the pan, opposite of the handle, point directly to the North Star.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer
The Light Inside
OBJECTS: A cutout of a star or a picture of the night sky.
Do you like to look at the night sky? What do you see? Yes, the moon and many, many stars.
Did you know that you can also see light from a star during the day? Would it surprise you to know that the sun is a star? All stars are balls of gas that burn from the inside and give off light and heat. The sun is the closest star to earth so we see its light and also feel its heat.
You may have heard the Bible story about the wise men and how they followed a very bright nighttime star that led them to Bethlehem.The star shone over the place where Jesus was born.
SOURCE: Sermon Writer