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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus instructed his disciples to prepare for their special Passover meal. Passover celebrates the Jewish feast where the Jewish people were freed from slavery by the Egyptians. This was to be Jesus Last Supper with His disciples. During the meal, Jesus took the bread, blessed it and shared it with his disciples. Then Jesus took a cup, blessed it and shared it with his disciples. Jesus changed the bread and wine into His own Body and Blood. He did this because he wanted to be with us always. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we remember we are receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The priest takes the place of Jesus, saying the same words that Jesus said at the Last Super, and the bread and wine becomes the real Body and Blood of Jesus.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:
How can you better prepare yourself to receive Holy Communion?
Family Prayer: Lord, please help us to recognize you in the Holy Eucharist. Help us to remember that you are truly present. Amen
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Read more: Solemnidad del Cuerpo y La Sangre de Cristo Ciclo B (Faith Formation)
(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus uses two parables to tell us about the Kingdom of God. In the first parable, the seeds planted grew into a healthy crop of grain, but it took many days and nights. In the second parable, the mustard seed which is the size of a teeny dot on a sheet of paper grows into a tree. Both these parables focus on seeds. Seeds sown take time to grow. When things take a long time to happen, we have to be patient and have faith. When we learn about our faith and practice it well, it will grow so that everyone will see its effect in our lives. We must sow seeds by spreading his words.
God wants us to know that if we live as Jesus tells us, we can look forward to happiness with God in the Kingdom of Heaven.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:
What actions start small but can grow into larger things?
(Good: kindness, love, forgiveness)
(Bad: anger, not forgiving, judgment)
Family Prayer: Jesus help us to grow in faith, love, positive attitude, and kindness. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In Sunday’s Gospel, we hear of a great storm. Jesus is on a boat with his disciples and has fallen asleep. His disciples are afraid of the storm and they wake up Jesus. Jesus wakes up and orders the wind and sea to calm down. Jesus asks his disciples: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
We all face personal storms of fear, anger, loneliness, rejection, loss of a loved ones. We can share our worries and concerns with Jesus. When we bring our worries to Jesus in prayer, he can help us see our worries from a different perspective. He can help us face our worries with faith in God’s love and protection.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other these questions:
When you are afraid, do you remember that Jesus is with you?
How can Jesus help you when you are afraid?
Family Prayer: Jesus, increase our trust in you especially when we are afraid. Help us to trust that you will help us at all times. Amen.
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
Sunday’s Gospel tells us that Jesus performed miracles. He cured the sick and even raised the dead. In each case he was moved by the faith of the people who requested the miracle. We don’t think of ourselves as being in need of healing, but we all need healing in different ways. We are human and we have physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs and perhaps need a bit of healing every single day. Jesus wants us to ask him when we need help and to ask with faith.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question:
What does it mean to ask Jesus for something with faith?
Family Prayer: Jesus, please help us to have faith. Teach us to ask for what we need with faith. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
Last Sunday, we saw Jesus perform great miracles moved by the faith of people. The raising of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage. This Sunday is quite different. People in Jesus’ hometown could not see who he really was. They only recognized the person they remembered from when he was younger. Because of their lack of faith, he did not perform many miracles.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
Why did the people in Jesus’ hometown have trouble seeing him as the Messiah and doubted he could do miracles?
Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, it is normal to doubt things sometimes. Please help us to look past our doubt and trust in you for everything. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus selects his 12 Apostles giving them special authority to preach and heal the sick. He did not send them alone. He sent then out two by two, and gives them specific instructions to take nothing with them for the journey, except a walking stick, a pair of sandals and one tunic. The Apostles trusted everything Jesus told them to do.
By virtue of our Baptism, we are called to trust Jesus and in his name tell people about his love for us. But he doesn’t expect us to do this mission alone. He wants us to work with others. Our Church is a community of disciples who teach people about Jesus and helps others in Jesus’ name.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question?
How will you share Jesus’ mission as his disciple?
Family Prayer: Jesus, help me to listen, hear and share your word. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In last week’s Gospel, we heard Jesus chose 12 Apostles and sent them to preach and heal in his name. In today’s Gospel, we hear what happens when they return from this important work.
The Apostles gathered with Jesus and reported all they had done. Jesus saw that they were very tired and told them to take a break, but the crowds found out and followed them. Even though they were tired, Jesus and his Apostles were moved with pity and continued to help the people.
Family demands can make us feel like Jesus and the twelve Apostles. When we pray, we can talk to Jesus about our own needs and the concerns for others. Jesus will renew and strengthen us to live as his disciples.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
How do you find the energy to do things you need to do when you are tired?
Family Prayer: Jesus, we know your grace is sufficient for whatever we need to do. Please help us turn to you when we need rest and when we need strength. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
No one is ever too young to help Jesus! In this Sunday’s Gospel, a little boy gave all the food he had to Jesus. Jesus performed a miracle and fed thousands of people with the little boy’s gift. Jesus was showing us that later he would feed thousands of us with the Holy Eucharist.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
What gifts do you have that Jesus could multiply to help others?
Family Prayer: Jesus, sometimes we are hungry too! We hunger for love, encouragement, or peace. Please help us to turn to you to give us all the things we hunger for. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel the people follow Jesus because He had given them bread. Jesus teaches them that what they really needed was not just food, but the food that God would give them. That food is Jesus Himself, the Bread of Life! When we celebrate Holy Communion, we receive Jesus Himself. Let’s remember that He is the Bread of Life. God provides for all our physical and spiritual needs.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other these questions.
Why does Jesus tell us that if we eat the bread he gives us, we will never be hungry? What does this mean?
Family Prayer: Lord, you gave us everything you had: Your life, your Body and your Blood. Teach us to give everything we have to you. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
This Sunday’s Gospel begins with the Jews complaining because they could not understand what Jesus meant when he said that he was the bread of life that came down from heaven. They knew he was Joseph’s and Mary’s son. Jesus hears them and responds by talking about his unity with God the Father. He repeats “I am the Bread of Life.” He teaches that the bread of life will be his own flesh, given for the life of the world.
Today’s Gospel focuses our attention on our faith in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He gives us his Body and Blood as bread so that we may have eternal life. Jesus promises us the gift of eternal life in the Eucharist.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
What does Jesus say a person must do to know him well.
Family Prayer: Jesus, it is hard to believe what we cannot see. Help us to have faith in you and your promise that the Eucharist is really you. Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
This Sunday we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. The Catholic Church teaches that Mary, who was without sin, was taken, body and soul by God into Heaven. The Gospel reading recalls Mary’s actions after the announcement of her pregnancy with Jesus by the Angel Gabriel. The angel told her that her cousin Elizabeth was going to have a baby and Mary immediately leaves to visit her. In her womb, Mary brings Jesus to her cousin, and they greet each other with joy. Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) leaps with joy in her womb. Elizabeth recognizes Mary as the mother of God and greets her saying “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Phrase in Hail Mary). Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting and sings with her song of praise (The Magnificat). With eyes of faith, they see the power and salvation of God breaking through into their lives and into the world.
Mary’s song of praise reminds us that God is always working for the salvation of the world. Let us foster a spirit of praise and thanksgiving and bring Jesus to others as Mary brought Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
How do we praise and thank God for the things that God is doing in our lives and in our world today?
Family Prayer: Let’s make Mary’s prayer of thanksgiving (Luke1:46-47) our own.
Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
Over the past weeks, we have heard Jesus teach that he is the Bread of Life, and those who believe in him will have eternal life.
In this week’s Gospel Jesus wanted to share the gift of himself with others, but it seemed scary to many people. Many people stopped following Jesus because they couldn’t understand what He was teaching. Jesus asked the 12 are you also going to leave? Simon Peter said that they knew that He had the words of eternal life, and that they were convinced that Jesus is the Holy One of God. The Apostles chose to stay with Jesus.
As we grow in our faith, we need to be like the Apostles and choose to follow Jesus even when it is hard, especially when other people don’t follow Him. We can’t do this without God’s help and the help of the community of faith, our Church.
On Sunday watch as people approach the altar to receive Holy Communion. They are walking towards the Eucharist. The “Real Presence” of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Bread of Life. In Him they will have eternal life.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
Do you have a hard time understanding what Jesus teaches us?
Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to believe in you even when it is difficult to understand what you have taught us. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this week’s Gospel, the Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples because they didn’t follow observations of the cleaning of hands, purifying themselves before they ate and other traditions. They believed that by their actions alone they were making themselves holy. Jesus taught the Pharisees who questioned him, that we do not make ourselves holy by just our actions. Rather, we become holy when we allow God’s Spirit to transform our hearts.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
How do you honor Jesus with your lips and your heart?
Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to be true in our faith and love for you. Let our hearts and our actions reflect that love. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
Jesus did many wonderful miracles! This Sunday’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus healing a man who is deaf and could not speak clearly. Jesus touched him and healed him. Being able to hear is a wonderful gift from God. Listen to how the deaf man’s friends brought him to Jesus to heal him. Today’s Gospel invites us to think how we witness the healing presence of God to others. Jesus loves us so much that He takes care of all our needs.
God has given us the gift of hearing to be able to talk with and listen to other people. Let us thank God for the gift of hearing. Let us use this gift to hear God’s Word at Mass and share it with others.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
How can you use your voice to tell others about Jesus?
Family Prayer: Lord, help us to hear the Gospel, understand it, and tell others the Good News of Jesus. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am”, and Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus then tells his disciples something they may not have wanted to hear. That he was going to suffer and die. Peter objects to what Jesus has said. Jesus tells Peter you don’t understand you are not thinking as God does, but as human beings do. Like Peter we too may not understand. We also may have ideas about what we think God should be doing in our world. We risk limiting God’s plan by thinking only in human ways. God’s plans are always more than we can ever imagine. Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and is Risen!
As followers of Jesus, we need to take up our cross and follow him. Jesus gave everything for us, and he wants us to love him and trust him with our whole hearts. Jesus wants us to offer our lives in service to others. As James tells us in today’s Second Reading, we can’t just say we have faith. We need to show our faith by works of love.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
What does Jesus mean when he says we must take up our cross and follow him?
Family Prayer: Jesus, teach us to believe in you and trust in you completely, even when it seems difficult. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is walking with his disciples through Galilee. Jesus tells his disciples that there will be conflict. He explains that he will suffer, die and rise. The disciples don’t want to think about what he is saying, they are afraid to ask questions. Instead, they argue about which one of them is the greatest. Jesus knew what they were talking about, so he tells them that if they want to be first, they must be humble and serve others.
Arguments as the disciples had in this Sunday’s Gospel are common in family life. Ever had this argument? I want to be first. I did the dishes yesterday; someone else should do it today. Why did she/he get chosen and I did not? All of us need to be reminded that to be great in God’s Kingdom is to be the servant of all.
As a family watch video in its entirety and ask each other this question.
How do you serve others?
Family Prayer: Lord, help us to see you when we see people in need.
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciple John said to Jesus. “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus teaches the disciples that they should not be reluctant to share Jesus’ healing powers with others. No one who performs good deeds in his name is against him. God’s love is for everyone. Jesus teaches his disciples that goodness and godliness are qualities to be nurtured in ourselves and in others. No matter our race, age, or social status, Jesus wants us to welcome and accept others as he does.
Jesus also says some things that sounds crazy. Why would he say cut off your hand and foot, pluck your eye out if this causes you to sin? He is saying these things not for us to do it. But so that we can realize that our hand, foot and eye are parts of our bodies that can lead us away from God when they are not used for His glory. Pay special attention to the reflection part of this week’s video. It will explain how this teaching applies to our world today.
As a family watch video in its entirety, it’s important to watch video to ask each other this question.
Am I using my hand, foot, or eye to block my relationship with Jesus?
Family Prayer: Lord, help us to strengthen our weaknesses, and walk in your path.
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that from the very beginning of creation God made the union of a woman and a man a blessed and sacred community. We honor this community in the Sacrament of Matrimony. We call this community the family. Jesus teaches us that God’s grace helps a man and a woman honor their commitments to each other. Continuing with the Gospel, people were bringing children for Jesus to touch them, but the disciples were stopping them. Jesus saw this and told them to let the children come to Him, and He blessed them.
Jesus loves children and every member of the family. He calls everyone in the family to follow him, trust God, and depend in Him completely.
As a family watch the video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What are some things that make it difficult to keep promises we have made to each other in our family?
Family Prayer: Lord, show us how to love each other in our family and keep our promises to each other. Amen
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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)
Dear Families,
The rich man in this Sunday’s Gospel wants to follow Jesus, but when Jesus tells him he must give up all he owns, he feels sad. It is hard to give up the things we have. Jesus doesn’t want us to hold too tightly to things of the world, but rather desire eternal life with Him in Heaven.
As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What things do you hold onto that might keep you from following Jesus?
Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to follow you no matter what we must leave behind.
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(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
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