How to Use This Book

 

 

 

Coaches,

 

This devotional book has been created for you! The layout is simple to make doing devotional easy every week at your practice.

 

Each devotional page includes the Gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday. You can read the Gospel or choose a player to read to the team.

 

After the Gospel are “Points of Reflection” about what is happening in the Gospel. If you have others you would like to add for you team please do!

 

Lastly, there are “Questions to ask” which are there to help get your team engaged and thinking about how the Gospel relates to their own lives, families, and team.

 

As a Coach for the CYO Program your mission is to develop Christian ideals in each player. This devotional will serve as a simple tool to help you form the youth through the Word of God and your personal willingness to take time to share the Gospel of Christ with your team.

 

 

 

 

Good Luck this season!

 

 

 

 

The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

 

 

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

 

The Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, a world without end. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Prayer for Athletes

Dear Father, may I compete with your love shining in my heart. May I push myself to be the best. I believe I can with your wisdom in my mind. May I have the strength, endurance and skills I need to be the athlete I know I can be. I worship you, I surrender to you. Lord, all that I do today is for you and your glory. Amen.

 

Prayer for Coaches

Heavenly Father guide me as I try to coach my team to build each player’s character and boost their self-esteem. May I keep an even temper and remember it’s a game. Grant me patient wisdom as I praise them or correct. Lord, whether we win or lose, may all who are watching see the kind of coach at every game that you would have me be. Amen

 

 

 

 

Sunday August 2, 2026

 

Matthew 14: 13-21
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted
place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them,
and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to
the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for
them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two
fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to
the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and
they picked up the fragments left over twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were
about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

Reflection Points:
- All the people following Jesus are going to need to eat dinner and Jesus wants to
provide for them
- The Apostles doubt Jesus because there is not enough food
- Jesus does a miracle and feeds over 5,000 people with only 5 loaves of bread
and 2 fish
Reflection Questions:
- Do you sometimes doubt that God can do great things? Why?
- What are small things you can give over to God to take care of this week?
- What is one way you can help take care of the needs of those around you this
week?

 

 

Sunday August 9, 2026

Matthew 14:22-33
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him
to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the
mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the
boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind
was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on
the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a
ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take
courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command
me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began
to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he
became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately
Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith,
why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were
in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Reflection Points:
- Jesus goes away by himself to pray
- Jesus walks on the water to his Apostles and they are afraid because they think
He is a ghost
- Jesus invites Peter to walk on the water but when he looks away from Jesus he
is afraid and begins to sink
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think even Jesus needed to pray?
- What are things that cause you to look away from Jesus?
- What are things that could help you keep your eyes on Jesus more?

 

Sunday August 16, 2026

 

Matthew 15: 21-28
At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite
woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My
daughter is tormented by a demon." But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus' disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after
us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the
woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not
right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord,
for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus
said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."
And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

Reflection Points:
- This is a very interesting encounter between Jesus and a Canaanite woman
- At that time the Canaanite people were not seen as the chosen people of God.
The woman shows her great faith and that she trusted in Jesus no matter what.
- This moment shows us that everyone is welcome to be a part of God’s family
Reflection Questions:
- Why is it sometimes hard to accept all people even if they are different from you?
- How can you invite people around you to know Jesus better?
- What do you think it looks like to have great faith in Jesus?

 

Sunday August 23, 2026

Matthew 16: 13-20
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, "Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others
Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you
say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and
blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you
are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld
shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever
you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the
Christ.

Reflection Points:
- Jesus asks his Apostles about who people are saying He is
- There are many different answers they give because people are trying to figure
out exactly who Jesus is
- Peter gives his own profession of faith that Jesus truly is God and it is in this
moment that Jesus names Peter as the first pope
Reflection Questions:
- How would you describe who Jesus is?
- How do you learn about who Jesus is?
- Have you ever asked your parents how they would describe who Jesus is? Ask
them when they pick you up today!

 

Sunday August 30, 2026

Matthew 16: 21-27
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from
the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be
raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No
such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me,
Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human
beings do." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must
deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for
one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his
life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will
repay all according to his conduct."

Reflection Points:
- Jesus is trying to talk to his Apostles about the fact he is going to die but they do
not want to hear it
- Last week we heard about Peter becoming the first pope and this week we hear
Jesus correcting him
- Jesus then tells his Apostles, and us, that to follow Him will not always be easy
and will sometimes be doing the harder thing or the thing we do not want to do
Reflection Questions:
- Do you ever have moments that you follow Jesus well and then other moments
when you do not? Why do you think this is?
- What do you think Jesus means when he says “deny himself, take up his cross,
and follow me”?
- What is one hard thing you have going on this week that you can offer up to God
and work hard to not complain about?

 

Sunday September 6, 2026

Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault
between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be
established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them,
tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a
Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again,
amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to
pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Reflection Points:
- In this Gospel Jesus gives guidance on how to handle conflict with others
- He gives clear instruction that does not include hatred or gossip about others
- At the end of the Gospel He talks about the power of prayer and especially
praying with others
Reflection Questions:
- What do you think are bad ways to handle a situation where someone hurts you?
- What do you think are good ways to handle the situation?
- How often does your family pray together? Ask your parents today if you could
say a prayer together before bed

 

Sunday September 13, 2026

Matthew 18: 21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often
must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven
times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a
king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way
of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children,
and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him
homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with
compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that
servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller
amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay
you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid
back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were
deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master
summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt
because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I
had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he
should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of
you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Reflection Points:
- The message of this Gospel is all about forgiveness
- Jesus is telling the people that because there is no limit to God’s forgiveness, we
too need to always be willing to forgive others
- Jesus warns against those who are forgiven but refuse to offer that to others
Reflection Questions:
- Why can it be hard to forgive other people?
- What does it feel like when someone forgives you?
- Is there anyone this week you need to forgive? Make sure you work to do that!

 

Sunday September 20, 2026

Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who
went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the
usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, the
landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go
into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out
again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five
o'clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you
stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to
them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said
to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last
and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each
received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would
receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they
grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and
you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to
one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for
the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one
the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you
envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Reflection Points:
- In this Gospel Jesus is warning us to not be jealous of other people
- In the story the workers think that they deserve more because they did more
work
- Jesus ultimately is telling us all that we need to worry about ourselves instead of
us being jealous of others or thinking things are unfair
Reflection Questions:
- Why do people get jealous?
- What are things you can do when you are feeling jealous?
- Everyone say 2 things they are grateful for

 

Sunday September 27, 2026

Matthew 21: 28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man
had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard
today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man
came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not
go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to
them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of
God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not
believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did
not later change your minds and believe him."

Reflection Points:
- Jesus has been giving us lessons in parables for the past few weeks
- Today’s story teaches us that it is not enough to just say you will follow Jesus
you actually have to follow through with it
- Jesus challenges us to be people who actually do what we say we are going to
do
Reflection Questions:
- Why do we sometimes say we are going to do something and then not do it?
- What do you feel like Jesus might be asking you to do this week? How can you
follow through?
- Sometimes we need encouragement from others to do what we say. How can
you encourage others around you this week?

 

Sunday October 4, 2026

Matthew 21: 33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine
press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When
vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But
the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they
stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they
treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will
respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is
the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him
out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those
tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a
wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at
the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone
that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be
taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Reflection Points:
- Jesus again gives us a message through a story
- This story reminds us of all the times God has sent us prophets or people to
speak about Jesus and we do not listen to them
- Then God goes so far as to send us His Son to speak to us and instead of
listening to Him we killed him
Reflection Questions:
- How well do you respond when God speaks to you?
- What gifts and talents do you have? How do you think God might be asking you
to use those for His glory?
- How can you be a messenger for God?

 

Sunday October 11, 2026

Matthew 22: 1-14
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables,
saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for
his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those
invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went
away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed
those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main
roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But
when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a
wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here
without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his
attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where
there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen."
Reflection Points:
- In this parable Jesus is helping us understand that God is always inviting us to
Himself and eternal life
- The wedding feast they are talking about is Heaven and the King is God
- God wants us to be in Heaven with Him but He also wants us to want to be there,
not to be forced. Heaven is always open to those who want to be there forever
Reflection Questions:
- What are things you think God is inviting you into this year?
- What are distractions or excuses we sometimes have for not following God?
- How can you be better about listening to invitations God has for your life?

 

Sunday October 18, 2026

Matthew 22: 15-21
The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you
are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And
you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me
the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to
them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what
belongs to God."

Reflection Points:
- Since a lot of people start to follow Jesus the Pharisees want to figure out a way
to arrest him. They try to get Jesus to say something that would make Him go
against one of the major political figures so they would be able to get him in
trouble
- Jesus knew what they were doing and instead gives an answer that is both true
and does not go against the law
- Jesus tells us to give to God what is His but also remain responsible to our duties

Reflection Questions:
- What are duties in your life that you are responsible for?
- How can you give to God what is His this week?
- Jesus calls us to respect authority in this passage. How can you be more
respectful toward your parents and teachers this week?

 

Sunday October 25, 2026

Matthew 22: 34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered
together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which
commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord,
your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the
greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Reflection Points:
- Like last week, some people try to trap Jesus to get Him to say something that
would get Him in trouble
- Jesus once again outsmarts them and lays out the two greatest commandments
- Jesus tells us that the most important thing in life is to love God and to love
others

Reflection Questions:
- What does it look like to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
- What does it look like to love your neighbor as yourself?
- Which one of these two commands do you feel like you need to work on more?
Why?