Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Wisdom 11:22—12:2
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:11—2:2
  • Luke 19:1-10

The Pauline children entered the living room for the weekly Gospel reading before Mass.  Scattered on the floor were seven white handkerchiefs, several large rubber bands, a few markers, and Mom’s cane plant from the dining room.

“What’s all this about?” Vincent quizzed his dad.  “Are we having the Gospel reading this morning, or are we having arts and crafts?”

Dad laughed.  “Both!”

With that reply, Dad instructed his children, “Come sit in a circle around the supplies.  We are going to have some fun reading the Scripture passage for today!”

All the Paulines, and even Mom, came and sat around the objects scattered on the floor.  But everyone was wondering, What in the world are we going to do?

Dad started.  “Okay, Kids, today we are going to hear the story of Zacchaeus.  Our handkerchiefs, and rubber bands, and markers are going to make up the characters.  Now, this is what I want you to do … “

Dad’s instructions were simple.  “Okay now, Everyone, put up your left hand with your palm facing you.  Now, tuck in your ring and pinkie fingers.”

All the Paulines followed the instructions without many problems.

“Now, wiggle your pointer finger. That’s going to be the head of our character!”

“Huh?” they all responded.

Dad only laughed.  “Next, we are going to take our white handkerchief and drape it over these three fingers.  Then, we take our rubber band …  and loop one end over our thumb …  pull it behind our pointer finger …  and loop the other end over our middle finger …  like this!”  Dad demonstrated the procedure, and soon the handkerchief came to life!

“Now, with our markers, we are going to draw some faces and clothing on our puppets.  Since we are all right-handed, you can use that hand to make smiles, eyes, and noses.  I want Vincent to draw his puppet to look like Jesus, and Mary Clare, you draw your puppet to look like Zacchaeus, the tax collector.  Everyone else, make your puppets look like the town’s people.”

Everyone got busy, and soon the puppets were moving and talking!

“Now, on to our Gospel reading for today,” Dad announced.  Dad started reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19.

“ ‘[Jesus] came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.’ ”  Vincent had his Jesus puppet move forward.  “ ‘Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,’ …  “  Mary Clare proudly put her puppet next to Vincent’s.  Dad continued, “ ‘ … was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.’ “  Luke 19:1-3)  The other Paulines joined their puppets to create this memorable scene.

Dad continued, “ ‘’So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.’ ” (Luke 19:4) At this point, Mary Clare scurried her puppet up the cane plant that had been placed in the center of the living room.  Dad pointed at his Bible for Vincent to read.  “ ‘When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, comedown quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” ‘ “  (Luke 19:5)

Dad continued reading as the play-acting became more animated.  “ ‘And he came down quickly and received him with joy.   When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”  But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, … ‘ ”  (Luke 19:6-8a)  And Mary Clare read this part very sincerely, “ ‘ “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.’ ‘ “  (Luke 19:8b)

Then Vincent, as Jesus, read the last lines, “ ‘ “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” ‘ “  (Luke 19:9-10)

Ta-Da!  The reading was over.  The story of humble Zacchaeus, who risked ridicule to see and be near Jesus, was told in dramatic fashion.

“Well, Kids, we should take our puppets and head over to Mass now,” Dad said.

Vincent took Mary Clare’s puppet and swayed and danced it around.  “Ah, Dad,” Vincent pleaded with a twinkle in his eye.  “Do you really think Father would object if Zacchaeus made a personal appearance at Mass this morning?”

Make these puppets with your own family.  It’s fun, and it’s easy!  Make the Gospel reading come to life!
 

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31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – CDownload

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