scripture matthew 5:13-16 being salt and light · teach children a liturgical dance performed with...

session essentialsP r eschoo l /K i nde r ga r t en

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© 2016 Published by Morehouse Education Resources, www.ChurchPublishing.org. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

5 th Sunday i n O r d i n a r y T ime – A

Living the Good News | Preschool/Kindergarten | 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Helps for Catechists ◆ More about Today’s Scriptures◆ Reflection◆ The Scriptures and the Catechism◆ The Sung Praise of Israel: Songs of

Thanksgiving◆ The World of the Bible: Salt

Enrichment◆ Discover the Good News◆ Singing Together◆ Art: Sun Masks (sun mask template)◆ Game: Tap or Clap (flashlight)◆ Costume Play (costume materials,

props)◆ Following Jesus Poster (stickers)◆ Info: Managing Expectations◆ Music and Movement: We See God’s

Light◆ Info: Young Children and The

Gospel◆ Info: Where You’ll Find Everything

Else

Core Session◆ Getting Started (flashlights,

kaleidoscopes, prisms, lenses, colored cellophane)

◆ Gospel Story: Let Your Light Shine

◆ Song: “This Little Light of Mine”

◆ Praying Together

Jesus invites us to be salt and light for those around us.◆ Jesus describes the true righteousness that brings glory to our Father in heaven.◆ Today’s session offers preschoolers and kindergartners stories and activities built around

the symbol of light.◆ Children experiment with light.

Being Salt and LightScriptureMatthew 5:13-16

Question of the WeekHow can I surprise someone with unexpected goodness this week?

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Getting Started (5-10 minutes)Note: This activity calls for materials that you will need to gather before the session. Even if you use only flashlights, you will probably need to borrow several to have enough for the children in your class.

In the session, welcome children and set out a collection of flashlights as well as a selection of toys that involve light (kaleidoscopes, prisms, unbreakable lenses, colored cellophane). Invite children to experiment with the materials. Let them explore making light, changing light, blocking light, etc.

After time for free play; gather children together and ask:◆ What things give light?◆ What can we do with a lamp? in the sun? with a

flashlight? with a candle?

Gospel Story (5-10 minutes)Let Your Light ShineAs you tell this story, light the chosen item. Keep it before you as you tell the first two paragraphs of the story. As you tell the paragraph that starts with the sentence, “Jesus teaches his friends,” move the light around the circle of children, letting the light shine briefly on each child. If you have a very large group, simply hold the light in front of several randomly chosen children.

God says to Jesus, “You are the light of the world. Bring light wherever there is darkness. Bring peace wherever there is hurt. Bring good news to my people.”

Jesus comes to us. Jesus hugs children on his lap and says, “I love you.” Jesus heals children who are sick and sad. Jesus tells us all, “God loves you. God loves you forever and ever.”

Jesus teaches his friends. He says, “you are the light of the world. Bring light wherever there’s hurt. Bring good news to God’s people.”

The friends of Jesus go. The friends of Jesus bring food to the hungry. The friends of Jesus hold close those people who are sick and dying. The friends of Jesus tell everyone, “God loves you. God loves you, forever and ever.”

Song (5-10 minutes)Teach children the song, “This Little Light of Mine.”

This little light of mine,I’m gonna let it shine.This little light of mine,I’m gonna let it shine.This little light of mine,I’m gonna let it shine,Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Everywhere I goI’m gonna let it shine.Everywhere I goI’m gonna let it shine.Everywhere I goI’m gonna let it shine.Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Every day and night,I’m gonna let it shine.Every day and night,I’m gonna let it shine.Every day and night,I’m gonna let it shine.Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Praying Together (5 minutes)Stand in a circle with children. Point to one child and say, “(Name of child), you are a light of the world.” Invite that child to repeat your words and actions for another child.

Continue until all children have been named as lights of the world. Close by praying:◆ Thank you God, for sending Jesus to be the Light of

the world. Thank you, Jesus for making us lights of the world, too. Help us, Holy Spirit, to spread the light of Jesus everywhere. Amen.

Note: Distribute this week’s At Home with the Good News to group members as they depart (or e-mail it to families after the session).


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Discover the Good News (5-10 minutes)On page 1 of today’s Discover the Good News you’ll find the words for the simple story-review song used in the core session. For parents this will be a fun reminder of a classic from their childhood.

On page 2 of Discover you’ll find an engaging light game that parents and families can play at home as well as some helpful tips for parents on building self esteem and self worth.

Singing Together (5-10 minutes)From Singing the Good News you and the children can sing together:◆ “The Light of God” (p. 26 of the songbook)◆ “You are a Temple” (p. 28 of the songbook)

Note: To access both the songbook and its attached MP3 files, open your Winter-A Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Singing the Good News.

You can also play for children the African-American spiritual “Down by the Riverside,” sung by the Blind Boys of Alabama. (Open your Winter-A Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Companion Music for options on obtaining this music.)

“Down by the Riverside” is easy to sing along with. Its imagery, drawn from the prophet Isaiah, ties together the Advent promises of God’s new world with the sacrament of baptism. Invite children to make up movements to accompany each verse.

Art (15 minutes)Sun MasksBefore the session download the sun mask template, attached to this document. Create from yellow con-struction paper sun masks, 1 per child.

In the session, invite children to decorate masks using crayons, colored pencils or markers. Once decorated, punch holes and reinforce them with pieces of tape or stick-on reinforcements. Attach strings or elastic to the masks so that they can be worn, or mount the mask on a large craft stick or paint stir stick.

Game (15 minutes)Tap or ClapChildren play a game with light. Darken the room. Tell children that you are going to turn a flashlight on and

off. When the light is on, children can jump up and down and clap. When the light is off, children must crouch down and be quiet.

You may choose to invite different children to be the Leader of the game, being in charge of the light and suggesting the specific activity (hopping, twirling, dancing). Provide assistance as needed.

Costume Play (15 minutes)Shining God’s LightProvide children with a variety of dress-up materials to facilitate costume free play. Invite children to dress like a particular person, character or profession, for example: doctor, teacher, police officer, mother, father, etc.

Ask each child to show the group something that their chosen person does, or can do, that helps us know who they are—a firefighter might rush into a burning building; a teacher might stand in front of a class. As you watch, describe the valuable contribution each character makes, and tell how important that contribution is to all of us. Connect the contribution back to things you’ve observed in the child’s own personality. “You are very patient, you might be a good teacher.” “You are a fast runner, you could be a good football player.”

As interest allows, invite children to create stories where their different characters interact in some way—the firefighter visits the school; a football player goes to the doctor. Allow children to create the story in their own way, and according to their own agenda. Your job is to listen and witness their creation, adding only enough input to keep the action going and growing.

Following Jesus Poster (5-15 minutes)Continue the Following Jesus Poster activity. In today’s activity, we help children identify ways of helping others as we follow Jesus.

Gather children around the Following Jesus poster. Point to the fourth picture in the four-part poster. Invite children to talk about the children following Jesus. Ask:◆ What are the children in this picture doing? How

are they helping? Are these children following Jesus, too?

◆ We can help others as we follow Jesus on this road.

Invite each child to act out one way to help others as he or she adds a sticker to the poster.


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Managing ExpectationsWe know that the craft projects created by

children participating in your sessions may not look anything like the samples you create to share with them as examples. Because adults often want the finished product to look “right” to us, we may have difficulty accepting suns with fierce scowls or scribbled features.

Remember that children bring unique combinations of skills and vision to craft projects. One child may use scissors precisely; another may love to use crayons “with abandon” on every project. We think that encouraging creativity and choice in children is more important than engineering a roomful of perfect sun masks. Allow yourself and the children in your class room for choice—and for imperfection.

Music and MovementWe See God’s LightTeach children a liturgical dance performed with unlit candles. Sing these words to the tune of “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”; If you don’t know this tune, simply chant the words in rhythm.

We see God’s light shine in our hearts.(Child slowly crosses hands over chest.)

We see God’s light shine in our friends.(Child turns to partner and bows deeply, lowering

crossed arms.)

We see God’s light shine in God’s words.(Child forms overhead circle with arms.)

We see God’s light shine without end.(Child crosses arms in front of self and touches hands to neighbors.)

Ask children to stand in pairs. Form a circle from the pairs. Each child holds a candle in his or her left hand while making the appropriate dance motions. See below.

Young Children and the GospelIn today’s gospel reading, Jesus, the light of the

world, tells us that we are the light of the world. Today’s lesson offers young children activities built around the symbol of light. We can’t expect young children to penetrate this metaphor as an adult might, but they can experience directly the qualities of light. This experience prepares children to comprehend Jesus’ teaching more fully as they mature.

Where You’ll Find Everything Else

◆ Attached to this Session Plan you will find:— Backgrounds and reflections for today’s

readings, titled More about Today’s Scriptures.— A child-friendly version of the story told in

today’s Core Session—Let Your Light Shine. — Sun Mask Template for use in today’s Art

activity.— Four mini-posters of the movements to

accompany the Music and Movement activity at left. The document is titled We See God’s Light Movements.

— The Following Jesus Poster, to be used in the activity of the same name.

— A family paper, At Home with the Good News, to print and distribute or to e-mail to families for use at home.

◆ Open your Winter-A Seasonal Resources folder, then click on Seasonal Articles to find:— Information on Winter-A’s Models of the Faith.— A printable article titled Sacred Art around Us.— The Introduction for Preschool/Kindergarten for

Living the Good News.


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More about Today’s ScripturesToday’s readings encourage us to become examples for others. Isaiah declares that the way to healing begins with generosity and justice. Paul proclaims nothing but the crucified Christ. Jesus describes the true righteous-ness that brings glory to our Father in heaven.

Isaiah 58:7-10This passage addresses Israel’s reliance on external practices of piety as empty rituals that sought merely to manipulate God and gain God’s approval.

Today’s verses are part of a longer section in which God redefines the role of fasting. An expression of humility, fasting offers the people an opportunity to do for others what God has already done for them, freeing the captives, feeding the hungry and bringing Israel’s homeless back to their homeland.

True spiritual practice attracts God’s attention and results in a new exodus. Verse 8 is reminiscent of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, when a pillar of cloud guided them by day and a pillar of fire guarded them by night.

The attitude of the heart and use of the tongue must also reflect charity. The people must give more than food, clothing or shelter: they must give themselves. Instead of seeking their own pleasure, they must first satisfy the desires of the needy, finding their own desires satisfied by God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5Paul now takes the principle he developed in 1:18-25—that “God’s foolishness is wiser than human strength”—and illustrates it in himself. Both his own physical unimpressiveness and his style of proclaiming the gospel made it clear that the power of the gospel was not Paul’s doing, but was from the power of God.

Though Paul was certainly aware of the oratorical techniques of the day, he disclaims these ploys to influence or persuade. The content of his message alone had the power to convince and transform his listeners as the Spirit penetrated their hearts and minds with the truth of the gospel message.

Matthew 5:13-16Matthew follows the Beatitudes with two sayings, one on salt and one on light. Salt was used as a preserva-tive and as a purifier of sacrifices. From the custom of making a covenant by eating a meal seasoned with salt came its use as a figure for preserving the covenant. The images of both salt and light also described the law. Light also referred to God and then to the restored Israel after the exile.

In the following sections (5:21-48), Jesus explains the true intent of the law, peeling back the legalism that had become encrusted over the spirit of the call to righteousness. The law that expressed true righteousness (that is, our right relation to God) must penetrate the heart, governing every part of our human life. Such a holiness is only possible for those who live in Christ, as described in the Beatitudes.

ReflectionYou are salt. You are light. Jesus’ statements are aston-ishingly direct. Not “you may be,” or “you are on good days,” or “if you improve…” Here, now, whatever you may think of yourself, no matter how much others criticize you, you are vital to the life of the world.

How vital is hard to measure until we understand that to the ancients salt was necessary for everything from seasoning and preserving food to making covenants. Matthew is equally direct about the rejection of flavorless salt. He even intensifies throwing it out by trampling it underfoot.

Scripture scholar John Meier reminds us that there are two facets of the light image: it is meant for all, and it can be smothered only by the disciples’ own failure. In a one-room, windowless house, the lamp would stand in a central place where its rays could extend as far as possible. To extinguish the flame without sparks, the homeowner would place another vessel over the lamp. That thought can prompt self-examination: how do we undercut our own mission? How do we dim our light by lack of confidence, preoccupation with lesser things or a failure to believe?

No one would argue that our world often seems murky and flat. It’s hard to see ourselves as the world’s best hope for color and flavor. We are like Paul, filled with weakness, fear and trembling. We have no particular eloquence or wisdom. Yet to perceive our limits is to recognize something beyond them, to another working through us. Whatever we do comes through the power of Christ and is a tribute to him.


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The Scriptures and the CatechismJesus recognizes that our good example as disciples is essential for our task of evangelization. We are not merely to proclaim the word but we must also live it by doing the works of mercy described by Isaiah (CCC, #2443–49). Truth must become a hallmark of our lives as the eighth commandment demands (CCC, #2464–70, 2475–87). Paul reminds us that it is not our sophisticated eloquence or slick marketing techniques that will sell the gospel. The gospel works because of the power of the Spirit who works through us. With the Spirit’s help, we can be salt and light for today.

The Sung Praise of IsraelSongs of Thanksgivingby Kathy McGovernWhen Israel thanks God, it’s through music, music, music. In fact, Psalm 57 implies that Israel’s sung praise gets the sun up in the morning: “I will sing and make melody. Awake my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn” (7-8). Even the sun and moon respond to the call of morning praise.

Jonah sings a hymn of thanks for his deliverance from the belly of the beast (Jonah 2). It’s interesting that he doesn’t start out the way we would imagine someone just swallowed by a big fish might start—God! Help! Now!—but instead with an astonishing confidence in the way the story is going to turn out: “I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice” (2:2). It’s fun to imagine this psalm as it might have been played at the temple—perhaps cymbals for the splash in the water, horns for the sound of the fish, then soft stringed instruments for Jonah’s time of repentance and trust inside its belly.

Probably King Hezekiah’s psalm of thank-offering for deliverance from death (Isaiah 38:10-20) was originally a liturgical song of thanks performed at the temple by worshippers grateful for a particular healing. And how does the grateful person show God proper gratitude? The end of the hymn says, “The Lord will save me, and we will sing to stringed instruments all the days of our lives…” (20).

The World of the BibleSaltSalt has many uses and, like other natural compounds, salt can be used negatively or positively. The Bible’s writers made generous use of salt imagery, sprinkling references to its use and abuse throughout Scripture. Biblical writers are well aware of salt’s properties, associating it with images of seasoning, preserving and purifying—or with powerful images of death, desolation and curse.

Salt was used as a purifier of sacrifices (Ezekiel 43:24). References to the covenant of salt capitalize on salt’s preserving qualities as symbolic of a permanent in-dissoluble relationship between God and his people (Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). Salt is listed as a required addition to all burnt offerings because of its preserving qualities (Ezra 6:9).

Spreading salt on a captured city symbolized a curse (Judges 9:45). Salt in the soil would inhibit the growth of food crops. Ezekiel contrasts salt marshes and swamps with fertile freshwater sources capable of growing all kinds of trees whose leaves will not wither. In his vision of a flourishing and vibrant Dead Sea, salt is so essential that marshes remain for its production (Ezekiel 47:11).

By his use of salt imagery, Jesus establishes that the life of Christians is vital to this world. Without the Christian element, life becomes bland and dismal. Furthermore, Jesus does not say mildly, “you are like salt,” nor does he say that in a long and gradual process, we will become salt. At this very moment, we are these precious elements, and we are expected to show that reality in our works.


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©2016 BY MOREHOUSE EDUCATION RESOURCES • ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDPermission is hereby granted to reproduce this page for use in the purchasing congregation only.

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Light is the connecting image in today’s readings. Isaiah58:7-10proclaims that light rises in the darkness “if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted.” 1Corinthians2:1-5 reminds us that the proclamation of the mystery

of God rests on the power of God. In Matthew5:13-16, Jesus tells his followers that they are salt of the earth and light of the world.

Preschool/Kindergarten children played with flash-

lights to illustrate the importance of light before

hearing that they are God’s light in the world. They

sang “This Little Light of Mine” and prayed to

Jesus, the Light of the World. Optional activities in-

cluded singing, making masks, playing a flashlight

game, viewing DeLaunay’s Joie de Vivre and learn-

ing a simple liturgical dance.

Primary(Grades1-3) children drew pictures of

light, sang “This Little Light of Mine,” heard today’s

gospel story about salt and light and conducted

flashlight interviews. For enrichment, they may

have sung together, played a game of hidden lights,

created light art and made a Bible verse poster.

Intermediate(Grades4-6) participants discussed

light as a metaphor for Jesus, explored today’s

gospel, responded by making light catchers and

celebrated God’s light seen in one another. Optional

activities included discussing their uniqueness,

viewing Bierstadt’s Yosemite Valley, and discovering

more about the Holy Spirit.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time • Year A

© 2016 Morehouse Education Resources. All rights reserved. www.ChurchPublishing.org • Permission is hereby granted to reproduce these pages for use in the purchasing congregation only.

The passage from Isaiah and the gospel reading from Matthew both speak of the significance of light. Make luminaria, punching holes in a tin can to form a pattern for the light to shine through. Use a can opener or ice pick to form the pat-terns; place small votive candles in the bottom. Place the luminaria on a porch or sidewalk to offer light in the darkness.

You are salt. You are light. Jesus’ statements are astonishingly direct. Here, now, whatever you may think of yourself, no matter how much others criticize you, you are vital to the life of the world.

No one would argue that our world often seems murky and flat. It’s hard to see ourselves as the world’s best hope for

color and flavor. We are, like Paul, filled with weakness, fear and trembling. We have no particular eloquence or wisdom. Yet to perceive our limits is to recognize something beyond them, to another working through us. Whatever we do comes through the power of Christ and is a tribute to him.

Jesus, let your light shine through us that others may see you...

Provide opportunities for children to be of service to others. These can

range from the simplest of tasks (bringing canned food for the parish food bank) to the

more elaborate. Encourage your children to see those they’ve aided as equals—brothers

and sisters in Christ—rather than as a lesser “other.”

What are some specific ways our family can offer food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted (Isaiah 58:10)?

Winter • Year A

Today’s readings encourage us to become examples for others. Isaiah declares that the way to healing begins with generosity and justice. Paul proclaims nothing but the crucified Christ. Jesus describes the true righteousness that brings glory to our Father in heaven.

Isaiah 58:7-10

This passage addresses Israel’s reliance on external practices of piety as empty rituals that sought merely to manipulate God and gain God’s approval.

Today’s verses are part of a longer section in which God redefines the role of fasting. An expression of humility, fasting offers the people an opportunity to do for others what God has already done for them, freeing the captives, feeding the hungry and bringing Israel’s homeless back to their homeland.

True spiritual practice attracts God’s attention and results in a new exodus. Verse 8 is reminiscent of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, when a pillar of cloud guided them by day and a pillar of fire guarded them by night.

The attitude of the heart and use of the tongue must also reflect charity. The people must give more than food, clothing or shelter: they must give themselves. Instead of seeking their own pleasure, they must first satisfy the desires of the needy, finding their own desires satisfied by God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul now takes the principle he developed in 1:18-25—that “God’s foolishness is wiser than human strength”—and illustrates it in himself.

Both Paul’s own physical unimpressiveness and his style of proclaiming the gospel made it clear that the power of the gospel was not Paul’s doing, but was from the power of God.

Though Paul was certainly aware of the oratorical techniques of the day, he disclaims these ploys to influence or persuade. The content of his message alone had the power to convince and transform his listeners as the Spirit penetrated their hearts and minds with the truth of the gospel message.

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew follows the Beatitudes with two sayings, one on salt and one on light. Salt was used as a preservative and as a purifier of sacrifices. From the custom of making a covenant by eating a meal seasoned with salt came its use as a figure for preserving the covenant. The images of both salt and light also described the law. Light also referred to God and then to the restored Israel after the exile.

In the following sections (5:21-48), Jesus explains the true intent of the law, peeling back the legalism that had become encrusted over the spirit of the call to righteousness. The law that expressed true righteousness (that is, our right relation to God) must penetrate the heart, governing every part of our human life. Such a holiness is only possible for those who live in Christ, as described in the Beatitudes.

More about Today’s Scriptures5th Sunday in Ordinary Time


ReflectionYou are salt. You are light. Jesus’ statements are astonishingly direct. Not “you may be,” or “you are on good days,” or “if you improve…” Here, now, whatever you may think of yourself, no matter how much others criticize you, you are vital to the life of the world.

How vital is hard to measure until we understand that to the ancients salt was necessary for everything from seasoning and preserving food to making covenants. Matthew is equally direct about the rejection of flavorless salt. He even intensifies throwing it out by trampling it underfoot.

Scripture scholar John Meier reminds us that there are two facets of the light image: it is meant for all, and it can be smothered only by the disciples’ own failure. In a one-room, windowless house, the lamp would stand in a central place where its rays could extend as far as possible. To extinguish the flame without sparks, the homeowner would place another vessel over the lamp. That thought can prompt self-exami-nation: how do we undercut our own mission? How do we dim our light by lack of confidence, preoccupation with lesser things or a failure to believe?

No one would argue that our world often seems murky and flat. It’s hard to see ourselves as the world’s best hope for color and flavor. We are like Paul, filled with weakness, fear and trembling. We have no particular eloquence or wisdom. Yet to perceive our limits is to recognize something beyond them, to another working through us. Whatever we do comes through the power of Christ and is a tribute to him.

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Winter • Year A

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We See God’s Light Movements


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Winter • Year A


Gospel Story:Let Your Light Shine

God says to Jesus, “You are the light of the world. Bring light wherever there is darkness. Bring peace wherever there is hurt. Bring good news to my people.”

Jesus comes to us. Jesus hugs children on his lap and says, “I love you.” Jesus heals children who are sick and sad. Jesus tells us all, “God loves you. God loves you forever and ever.”

Jesus teaches his friends. He says, “you are the light of the world. Bring light wherever there’s hurt. Bring good news to God’s people.”

The friends of Jesus go. The friends of Jesus bring food to the hungry. The friends of Jesus hold close those people who are sick and dying. The friends of Jesus tell everyone, “God loves you. God loves you, forever and ever.”

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scripture matthew 5:13-16 being salt and light · teach children a liturgical dance performed with...

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