Services

10/22/23 - God and Caesar - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew, some religious leaders want to trap Jesus into taking sides on the question of paying Roman taxes. They believe that accepting Roman rule in their country means they are not loyal to God and his rules. Jesus tells them to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Jesus calls them and us to obey both civil and religious laws, however, we need to examine our allegiances when the two conflict.

We have God’s laws and government laws. Both are for our own good. But we need to remember that what is most important is to love and honor God first.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What allegiance do we owe to God? What allegiance to Caesar?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to always remember to keep God first in our lives. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

6/16/24 - What is Faith? - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells two parables about the kingdom of God. In the first parable, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a seed a man scatters and does not know how it grows, but with time the seed sprouts and grows into a harvest. The second parable focuses on a tiny mustard seed, that though tiny grows into a tree with large branches and welcomes many birds.

Both of these parables focus on seeds and how they take time to grow. They teach us that when we scatter the seed of God’s word, we do not know how it grows but we need to scatter the seed. Also, when we plant the tiniest seed of love in our hearts and share it with others it too grows and brings the kingdom of God to others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Why does Jesus use the seed in these parables to explain the Kingdom of God? What do we learn about the kingdom from the mustard seed parable?

Family Prayer: Jesus, help us to grow in faith and bring the kingdom of God to others. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

4/16/23 - Believing & Trusting - Cycle A

Dear Families,

Happy Easter! Easter season is a celebration of fifty days, from Easter until Pentecost.

In this Sunday’s Gospel of John, Thomas is not with the Apostles when Jesus appears to them. He is told that Jesus appeared to them but Doubting Thomas does not believe them and states that unless he sees him himself, he will not believe. Jesus appears again and asks Thomas to touch him, and not be unbelieving. Thomas touched him and said “My Lord and my God.” The Lord asks Thomas “Have you come to believe because you see me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Jesus was blessing us when he said these words to Thomas. We are asked to show that we believe in Jesus as our Lord and God. We believe because of the witnessing of all who have gone before us in the faith.

This Sunday is also Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a special day when we remember God’s mercy. When we sin, we offend God, but because he is merciful, he forgives us when we are sorry. Like Thomas the Apostle we need to see and we have our doubts, but God understands us and forgives us. We need to trust that he is always with us and loves us.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
Do you doubt when you are with believers, or are you a believer who has doubts? Do you trust our Lord and pray for understanding when you have doubts?

Family Prayer: Jesus, I Trust in You!

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

8/27/23 - Who do you say that I am? - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asked his disciples who people thought the he was. They responded, that some people thought he was someone special, but none of these people understood who he really was. Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon answered “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus tells Simon that God helped him see that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus tells Simon that he would now be called Peter, which means rock, he would be a strong foundation to build his Church.

Peter played an important role in the early Christian community. Jesus gave the teaching authority to Peter and it has been passed down to all those who have followed him as leaders in the Church. Like Peter, Pope Francis reminds us that we are people united in the faith that Jesus is God’s Son.

Today’s Gospel should remind us that the Church is built on a foundation united in faith that Jesus Christ is God’s Son. The family, as domestic church, has this same faith as its foundation.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
How would you respond to Jesus if he asked you “Who do you say that I am? How would you respond if you were asked “Who is Jesus?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us receive the grace to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. As a family, help us build a strong foundation in our domestic church. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

1/29/23 - Jesus Wants Us To Be Happy - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the Beatitudes. Jesus tells us that we are “blessed” when we are sad, meek, looking for righteousness, poor in spirit, merciful, and even when people are mean to us because we believe in God. We also learn something else important: Jesus wants us to listen to what he says and learn from him.

People can be rich in material things, successful, or famous and not consider themselves blessed or happy. The Beatitudes are blessings that tell us how Jesus wants us to live.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Who does God bless according to Jesus?

Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to listen and learn the things you want us to know. Give us the grace to live out the Beatitudes. Amen.