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6/23/24 - Jesus Calms the Storm - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus is in a boat sleeping with his Apostles when a big storm came up and they were afraid they were going to sink.  They wake him and ask him if he is not afraid, they will sink.  Jesus stops the storm and asks them “Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?”

 

There are many times and reasons as to why we worry and are afraid.  Remember, that whatever storms we face in our lives, when we have faith and trust Jesus his peace will calm our storms.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then 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 when we are afraid.  Amen.

 

 

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10/8/23 - Bad Tenants and Wild Grapes - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the chief priests and elders a parable about a man who plants a vineyard, and then leased it to tenants.  When the owner’s servants go to collect the produce from the tenants, they rebel and kill the servants.  Then he sends his son, and they killed him also.  The tenants thought they would be able to take the vineyard if the son was dead.  When he finishes the parable, he questions the chief priests and elders. He asks, what would they do?  And they answered that they would kill the wicked tenants.  Jesus is speaking about the failure of Jesus’ own people not accepting him.  When God sent His Son Jesus, the leaders were like the tenants.  They did not listen or respect him. They killed Jesus on the cross.

 

Jesus’ parable teaches us to be part of God’s vineyard, the Church.  Jesus is asking us to make good choices.  Not to be like the bad tenants who were selfish.  He is calling us to be a part of God’s kingdom.  To be a part of God’s kingdom we need to love, not be selfish, listen to Jesus’ teachings, and be responsible to what we say we will do.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
How is God like the owner of the vineyard?  How are you responsible at school, home, church, and with other people?

 

Family Prayer:  God our creator, thank you for making us and sharing your wonderful world with us.  Amen.

 

 

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11/12/23 - The Wise and Foolish Virgins Parable - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.  To understand this parable, we need to know that during Jesus’ time it was a tradition for families and friends to wait for the bridegroom when he came to bring his bride to their new home.  And they could be late.  The wise virgins were prepared and took extra oil and attended the wedding feast.  The foolish ones did not take extra oil and while they went to get more oil the doors were closed and they were not able to attend the wedding feast.

 

Jesus is teaching how we need to be prepared to enter the Kingdom of Heaven because we do not know when he will return.  We prepare for his coming every day through prayer, being good to one another, loving each other, going to mass.  Living our faith is the work of a lifetime. 

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
If Jesus came back today, would you be ready to meet him?

 

Family Prayer:  Jesus, remind us to always be prepared for you, especially each Sunday at Mass.  Amen.

 

 

WiseFoolishVirgins En

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12/31/23 - Anna and Simeon

Dear Families,

Merry Christmas.  This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family.  Today’s Gospel of Luke, tells us how Mary and Joseph being faithful Jewish parents took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem and in accordance with the Jewish rite dedicated Jesus to the Lord.  In the Temple, they encounter Simeon and Anna, who recognized the infant Jesus and praised God.

 

We need to remember that the Holy Family is a model of what it means to be a family of faith and love.  We imitate the Holy Family by the ways we share our faith and love with our families and others.

 

As a family watch this Anna and Simeon video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
As a Catholic family, how are you expressing your faith like the Holy Family?

 

Family Prayer:  Lord, open our hearts to your Word so that we may imitate the Holy Family.  Amen.

 

 

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4/14/24 - What does the Resurrection mean for us? - Cycle B

Dear Families,

Happy Easter!

 

On this Third Sunday of Easter, we hear in Luke’s Gospel how Jesus again appears to his disciples.  They are afraid, and he greets them “Peace be with you.”  He asks them to touch his wounds and give him something to eat.  Jesus is risen and still has his human body.  He is Risen and is fully human and fully divine.  After they ate, Jesus gives the disciples a mission, to tell others about his Life, Death, and Resurrection and His message of God’s love and forgiveness.

 

As disciples of Jesus, we also are invited to eat at his table and receive the Eucharist, share scriptures, and announce the Good News of Jesus’ message of God’s love and forgiveness of sins.  We are to be witnesses of what we have experienced with him.

 

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
How can I be a witness of God’s love to others?

 

Family Prayer:  Jesus, help us bring the Good News of your Resurrection to our family, friends, and neighbors.  Amen.

 

 

ResurrectionMeaning 2024 En

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