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Page 4 • Faith Today
CHILDREN'S STORY HOUR
When did
By Janaan Manternach
NC News Service
The crowd was large. People
pushed and shoved to get closer
to the front. They wanted to see
and hear Jesus.
Jesus stood up on some steps so
it would be easier for people to
see and hear him. He raised his
hands above his head. The crowd
became very still. Everyone strain
ed to hear what Jesus would say.
“When I return in glory,” Jesus
began, “I will sit like a king on a
throne. Everyone will stand before
me. I’ll separate people into two
groups, just as a shepherd
separates sheep from goats. He
places the sheep on the right side
and the goats on the left.”
The crowd remained very still.
Everyone wondered which side
they would be on.
Jesus continued. “I’ll say to
those on the right, ‘Come! My
Father blesses you. You will
receive what God has planned to
give you since the creation of the
world. I was hungry and you gave
we see you hungry?
me food. I was thirsty and you
gave me drink. I was a stranger
and you welcomed me. I had
nothing to wear and you gave me
clothes. I was sick, and you took
care of me. I was in prison and
you visited me.”’
Everyone in the crowd, of
course, imagined they were on the
right side of Jesus. But they
weren’t sure when they had fed
him, or welcomed him, or visited
him. In fact they didn’t remember
doing any of these things for him.
Jesus knew what they were
wondering. He put their thoughts
into words. “Those on the right
will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see
you hungry and give you food, or
thirsty and give you something to
drink? When did we see you as a
stranger and welcome you into
our homes? Or when did we give
you clothes? When did we see
you sick or in prison and come to
visit you?”
People could hardly wait for the
answer Jesus would give to these
questions. They were amazed at
his response.
“This is what I will tell those
on my right who ask these ques
tions,” Jesus said. “Whenever you
did any of these things for the
least important of my brothers
and sisters, you did it for me!”
The crowd reacted in amaze
ment. People whispered to one
another. “Does he mean that
what we do for the people around
us, we are really doing for him?”
Jesus then talked about those
who would be on his left, the
goats. He said that they did not
when he was in need.
They did not feed or clothe him
when they saw him hungry and
thirsty. They didn’t give him
shelter or clothing when he need
ed it. They did not visit him when
he was sick or in prison.
“As often as you neglected
these people in need, you
neglected me," Jesus concluded.
The crowd broke up. People
pondered Jesus’ words.
(Story hour biblical quotes —
this week from Matt. 25:31-46 —
are paraphrased.)
(Ms. Manternach is the author
of numerous catechetical books
and articles for children.)
Missing Parts
Add the missing vowels to the words below. The phrases in
the puzzle are to be found in this week ’s Children's Story Hour.
1. 1 rg cr wd
2. sh p n th r ght
3. g ts n th 1 ft
4. k ng n thr n
5. w s h ngr ...
6. g v m dr nk
7. w s s ck
8. d d t f r m
•am 31 pip noX *8
‘"•jpis sbm i 'i ‘jjuup 03 aui oabS noX"- 9 ‘•••XiSumj sbm j q ‘auoaip b uo
9in>[ y aip uo s^boS -g ‘iqSu atp uo daaqs -g ‘pMoao oSjbt y isjomsub
HOW ABOUT YOU?
□ Think about your own community. Are there any people there who
are hungry, or thirsty, or lonely, or who need clothes? Can you help?
Children's Reading Corner
“An Artist” is a story by M.B. Goffstein. Children and adults may en
joy reading it together again and again. It begins with the words, “An
artist is like God, but small.” The story continues by describing how
artists spend their lives. They use their talents trying to make colors
sing in their paintings.
T he book’s illustrations help to show that the world the artist sees
is an echo of the world of God’s creation. Look in your local library for
other books by Ms. Goffstein, a fine writer and illustrator. (Harper &
Row, 10 E. 53 St., New York, N.Y. 10022. Hardback, $7.95.)
Forgiveness
The promise of God’s forgiveness is
fulfilled as Father Robert Whalen, SJ,
hears the confession of a prisoner in
the Federal Medical Prison in Spring-
field, Missouri. Father Whalen's mes
sage of forgiveness and the love of God
help heal the pain of confinement for
large numbers of repentant prisoners.
With help from the Catholic Church
Extension, Father Whalen introduces
prisoners to basic Christianity. It’s a
tough job in a hostile environment.
Father Whalen is part of a team of
home missioners who, together with
Extension, pursue the vital and urgent
task of evangelization here in the
United States. But the team is too
small to do the job without help. It
needs new members. It needs you.
Join us. Become a member of the
Extension Society team. Although you
won’t be present in the home missions
personally, your impact will be felt in
this holy effort. Together we can bring
the Word of Christ to those who don’t
have it.
Write for a free subscription to Ex
tension magazine today and discover
the difference you can make. Together,
and with God’s grace, we can achieve
His missionary goals here in our own
beloved country.
The Catholic Church
EXTENSION Society
35 East Wacker Drive ■ Chicago, Illinois 606Q1