Services

10/27/24 - Jesus and Bartimaeus - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of Mark, a blind man called Bartimaeus called out to Jesus to cure him. The crowd around him try to silence him, but Bartimaeus keeps persisting by calling out louder. Jesus hears Bartimaeus, approaches him, and asks him what he wants. Bartimaeus responds that he wants to see. Jesus tells Bartimaeus that his faith has saved him and heals him of his blindness.

Jesus teaches us that to be persistent about bringing our needs to him when we are hurting, lonely, or sad. Jesus wants us to have so much faith in him that we should not let anyone stop us from calling out to him. He loves us, and he is always there to help us.

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. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

11/3/24 - Jesus' Great Commandment - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In today’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus is questioned by a scribe about which was the first of the ten commandments. Jesus told him that the first is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Second to love others as much as we love ourselves.

Jesus teaches us that love is the commandment that sums up all the others. To love God, we praise God, and thank God. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves, is to treat others as we would like to be treated. When we love the way Jesus teaches, we are showing our love for God and shining the light of God’s love on others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
What do you do with your whole heart, mind or strength? How does love of neighbor reflect love for God?

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

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

11/10/24 - The Widows - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus was sitting near the Temple treasury, where he could see the people who came to drop in their money. Many rich people put in a lot of money. Then a poor widow came up and dropped in two little copper coins. Jesus gathered his disciples and said to them, that poor widow gave more to the treasury than all the others. They gave what they could spare without hurting. But she, a poor widow, has given all she had to live on.

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us a unique way to look at how we are to be generous. He explains that giving from our excess is not as powerful as giving everything like the widow did. We are challenged to give everything to God, not just our extra time, talent, and treasure.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What have you held back from God?

Family Prayer: Help us to see what we are holding back from you, Lord, and to give it freely. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

11/17/24 - God's Kingdom - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells his disciples what will happen at the end of the world. It’s scary to hear, the sun and moon will stop shining and the stars will fall down. But we do not need to fear, because he will come back among the clouds and send out his angels and gather all those that have stayed close to him to live with him forever. He also tells his disciples that only the Father will know when this will happen.

This week’s Gospel, is a reminder we should prepare for Jesus’ coming every day. Jesus tells us that we don’t know when he will return, so we must be ready at all times.

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

What can you do every day this week to show Jesus he is welcome in your home and heart?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us make loving choices every day as we wait for your return. Amen.

Click Photo

(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

11/24/24 - The Good King - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of John, we listen to Jesus’ trial before Pontious Pilate. When Pilate asks him “Are you a King?” Jesus responds that his kingdom is not of this world and that he has come into the world to testify to the truth.

This Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. The start of the last week in the Church’s liturgical calendar. We learn that Jesus is King of the universe, but he doesn’t demand anything except our love and obedience to the commandments. Jesus has authority over everything, but he humbles himself to serve us and even to die for us.

He teaches us to be servant leaders and rule with love. When leaders rule with love, they build the kingdom of God.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other these questions.
How is God’s kingdom different from a kingdom on earth? What kind of leader or king is Jesus?

Family Prayer: Jesus, you are a good and loving king. Help us to follow your will and trust that it is always for our good. Amen.