Att predika för barnen - några reflexioner (Preaching to Children - Some Reflections)

Abstract

This article, which deals with ”sermon” for children, states that the main method in preaching to children is the dialogue. The level of the dialogue ought normally to be for children around the age of seven with some addresses to the adults, which is good also for children who have a longing for growing up and for understanding more. Children who are less than seven years old will be more impressed by a good liturgical setting, by songs and by the atmosphere of the worship and the worshipping community than by a sermon for them.  

The dialogue presupposes profound commentary studies in trying to find the message of the biblical author in order to hand over to the children not only the story itself but primarily what the text has to say about God, what he is like, his attitude towards man, and what Jesus is like. It is important also to find the perspective of the children in the text, some­ one for the children to identify with, sometimes by ”creating” a child looking, for instance at Jesus riding to Jerusalem. The bridge to reality - What has this biblical story got to do with my everyday life? - is more important than ever when preaching to children. Otherwise, Jesus will be like any interesting person in history.  

When telling the children about the wonders of Jesus, you should not stress the wonder itself, turning Jesus into a heavenly magician but stress his love and compassion for people in doing the wonder. Before Easter, you may tell the children that Jesus knew that he would be killed and that he still chose to go to Jerusalem, thus avoiding for the children to become sad not understanding how people could do so to Jesus whom they love.  

In the ordinary worship, try to find a text with the perspective of the child or use the theme of that Sunday or of the season. Not every priest has the gift to preach to children. Therefore, it is better that the priest asks a good teacher or leader in the parish to do the children's sermon.