Special Religious Education

 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

The request of John and James in this Sunday’s Gospel brings to light how even Jesus’ followers had the desire to be approved and rewarded in worldly terms.  Whenever human beings gather, we ask who is best, number 1, champion, leader.  As a family, we also struggle with disagreements and power struggles.  Listen to the Gospel and learn how Jesus teaches us the importance of service and sacrifice in the life of a disciple.  Jesus wants his followers to imitate him by being humble and becoming servants of all.

Jesus came to serve, not to be served and gave his life as a sacrifice to save us.  Each time you go to Mass, know that the Lamb of God is offering himself for you in the sacrifice of the Eucharist.  See the glory of his life being poured out for you, then let it inspire you to go and pour yourself out for others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.

In your family, how do you struggle with authority?  How do you put each other’s needs before your own?

Family Prayer:  Open our eyes Lord to see the needs of others and grow in our desire to serve them.  Amen

james john en

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 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, a blind man named Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus to cure him.  The people in the crowd tell him to stop calling out, but he calls out more loudly.  He won’t be silenced.  Jesus hears him and goes to him and asks him “What do you want me to do for you?”  He replies.  “Master, I want to see”.  Jesus tells Bartimaeus that his faith has saved him and he receives his sight.

Sometimes we can be blind too.  We don’t see the truth about God and are blind to our own faults.  Perhaps we are hurting or feeling alone or sad.  Like Bartimaeus, we should call out to Jesus to help us and not let anyone stop us.  Jesus wants us to believe that he can heal us.  He shows us that our persistence in prayer is a sign of our faith. 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions?

What do you want Jesus to heal for you?  Do you believe that he can heal you?

Family Prayer:  Lord, sometimes we don’t even recognize that we need healing.  Help us to see where we might be broken and humbly ask you to heal us.

bartimaeus en

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 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

During Jesus’ time on earth, religious leaders liked to sit around and discuss the law.  One Jewish teacher asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  Jesus answered, “The first one is:  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches to love God above everything else.  It may sometimes be difficult to remember all the 10 Commandments.  However, Jesus explains that love is the greatest commandment that sums up all the others.  To love God, we praise God and thank him.  With his love we learn to love each other, share, forgive, and show respect.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question?

How does Jesus show you by example how you can live out the Great Commandment of loving God and neighbor?

Family Prayer:  Jesus, help us to not get caught up in our own busyness and forget to put you first.

greatest commandment en

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 Watch video as a family.

 


 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, a blind man named Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus to cure him.  The people in the crowd tell him to stop calling out, but he calls out more loudly.  He won’t be silenced.  Jesus hears him and goes to him and asks him “What do you want me to do for you?”  He replies.  “Master, I want to see”.  Jesus tells Bartimaeus that his faith has saved him and he receives his sight.

Sometimes we can be blind too.  We don’t see the truth about God and are blind to our own faults.  Perhaps we are hurting or feeling alone or sad.  Like Bartimaeus, we should call out to Jesus to help us and not let anyone stop us.  Jesus wants us to believe that he can heal us.  He shows us that our persistence in prayer is a sign of our faith. 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions?

What do you want Jesus to heal for you?  Do you believe that he can heal you?

Family Prayer:  Lord, sometimes we don’t even recognize that we need healing.  Help us to see where we might be broken and humbly ask you to heal us.

bartimaeus en

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 Watch video as a family.

 


 (La versión en español sigue al inglés)

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s readings we hear about two widows.  A widow is a woman whose husband has died.  In the first reading we hear about a widow who was asked to give away all the food she had, and she was blessed with enough flour and oil to supply her and her son for a year.  In the Gospel reading Jesus points out to his disciples a poor widow who puts in two small coins in the Temple treasury.  He sees the generosity of the poor widow.  Her small coins required a greater sacrifice than the large amounts the rich were giving.  Both widows gave the last and the best of what they had.

When we understand that everything we have comes from God, we are then ready to give everything to him.  By giving away the best of ourselves and what we have, our faith and love for one another grows.  We learn that we need to thank and trust God for all he has given us.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
When you give, do you give everything you have or only what you have left over?

Family Prayer:  Lord, help us see what we are withholding from you.  Give us the strength to be generous and not ask for anything in return.  Amen

Two Widows En

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