Weekly Kids’ Reflection in our Parish Bulletins – Comments on these reflections can be sent to heykids23@gmail.com
Hey Kids! Bulletin Article – May 31, 2026
Hey, Kids! – When we hear the words everyone and whoever, we know that ALL are included in whatever is being offered. If I say, “Everyone can have a piece a cake,” that means anyone can have a piece of cake – no exceptions. If I say, “Whoever wants to take a bike ride is welcome to join,” that means anyone can go on a bike ride – no exceptions! We can add rules to these phrases like, “Everyone can have a piece of cake, as long as you eat your dinner.” OR “Whoever wants to take a bike ride is welcome, as long as you wear your helmet.”
In today’s Gospel reading according to John, we hear an incredibly powerful statement about God’s love for us. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that EVERYONE who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This quote from the bible says so much – God loves THE WORLD so that EVERYONE can go to heaven as long as we believe in him. He loves the WHOLE world… not part of it. Not just the lakes, forests, people, animals or mountains – ALL of the world. He loved EVERYONE… not just some of us. He even loves the people that struggle to believe in Him – but he tries so hard to find them.
Jesus makes it very clear that even though we may sometimes fail at following the commandments, we are still loved and forgiven, as long as we believe in Him. We can do a lot of wonderful things while we are here on earth, but it is our belief in God that will truly make us happy! It is our belief in God that will help us want to do good in His name. When we know that God is truly someone to believe in, peace will live with us forever.
Let’s pray: Thank you, God, for letting EVERYONE know that we are not alone and that we are loved. Thank you for sending the patient, kind, forgiving Jesus to show us how to act. Amen.
Hey Kids! Bulletin Article – May 24, 2026
Hey, Kids! – What has been the best gift you have ever received? When I was little, I always would get so excited about my birthday because it meant I was going to get presents. I still get excited for my birthday, but I find that the things that I want more than anything are things that God has blessed me with: health, peace with those that I love and my family being near me.
After Jesus resurrected from the dead, he visited his disciples and gave a special gift to his disciples. In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This gift he gave them was unlike any gift they had ever received. It was the gift of knowing that God lives within each of us. Jesus wanted his disciples to know that God lived in them, and he wanted them to tell everyone they knew that THEY TOO have the Holy Spirit living in them! What an amazing gift! We have to remember that the disciples experienced something that was very confusing for them and they did not know what was going to happen to them since Jesus was no longer with them in a physical sense. To see Jesus get tortured the way that he did was very difficult for them to process and they feared for themselves. However, when he resurrected and told them that the Holy Spirit was with them, they realized that they had work to do. They knew that Jesus suffered for his love for us and they had a mission to do – to spread His Word.
When I was young, I went to church and I listened to the same stories you have listened to. I remember enjoying the stories I read but not fully understanding the true gift the Holy Spirit was. It wasn’t until I was older where I had that moment when I truly realized what it felt like to have the Holy Spirit within me. It changed me. I wanted to be better. I wanted to be peaceful and I wanted to share my love for Jesus with everyone. What a gift it is to be loved by God and to know he lives in our hearts! I pray this for you to feel his presence.
Let’s pray: Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me be a reflection of this gift. Amen.