COVID-19 Vaccines & Catholic Morality

7/9/23 - King of Peace - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In this week’s Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” Jesus is telling us that God, Our Father, understands when we are worn out. He knows when we are burdened with problems, are tired at work, at school. He teaches us that when we pray and share our burdens with him, they become lighter.

God wants us to go to him when we need to rest, and open our minds to his wisdom and love. When our hearts rest in God we experience peace. When we experience this peace, it is then shared with love and compassion for others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Do you go to God when you are troubled?

Family Prayer: Dear Jesus in our times of trouble, let us always share our burdens with you. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

7/23/23 - Weeds Among the Wheat - Cycle A

Dear Families,

In Matthew’s Gospel of this week, Jesus continues to speak to us in parables. In today’s first parable, Jesus talks about a man who tells his servants to let the weeds grow along with the wheat until harvest time, this way the wheat will not be pulled along with the weeds. The man told them to wait till harvest time. Then they were to burn the weeds and gather the wheat into his barn.

The weeds represent the evil in the world, the wheat the good in the world. Wheat and weeds must grow together until harvest time. Let this serve us as a reminder about the Kingdom of God, and learn that through our actions we must be the wheat in the world, not be judgmental, and bring God’s love and mercy to all. God is merciful, and gives us time to do good actions so that on judgement day we can be gathered into his barn, his Kingdom of Heaven.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What does this parable of the weeds and wheat tell us about God’s judgment and his Kingdom?

Family Prayer: Lord, help us to pull the weeds out of our hearts and mind, and become the loving wheat you desire for us to be gathered into your Heavenly Kingdom. Amen

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

12/17/23 - Christ in Our Hearts - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear how John the Baptist answered when he was asked if he was the Messiah. He told them that as Isaiah had said, he was the voice of the one crying out in the desert, making straight the way of the Lord. John the Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus coming. John said he was baptizing with water and someone that they did not recognize would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

Like John the Baptist we are called to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus and be the voice of faith proclaiming Jesus to the world. In this third Sunday of Advent, as we light the pink candle of Joy, let us rejoice and remember that “Emmanuel” God is with us. Share this joy.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Who are the people in word and action that have taught you about Jesus?

Family Prayer: Dear Jesus, show us how to teach others about you. Help us to be voices of faith. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

1/28/24 - "To him you shall listen" - Cycle B

Dear Families,

In this Sunday’s Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals a man when he is teaching on the Sabbath during synagogue worship in Capernaum. He heals the man with an unclean spirit. This unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the Holy One sent by God and asked if he had come to destroy him. Jesus rebuked him and told the evil spirit to come out of him and it did. The people who witness are amazed at his authority. Jesus has God’s authority to teach and heal.

Through this miracle Jesus teaches us a powerful lesson of God’s love, his authority, and his healing power. He doesn’t reject the man he heals him and we learn that Jesus brings God’s healing power to all people. We should all share the healing power of Jesus with others.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
Do we recognize Jesus’ authority over us, his healing power, and his ability to teach us?

Family Prayer: Jesus, please help us to listen to you in all things. Amen.

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(La versión en español sigue al inglés)

1/2/22 - Epiphany of the Lord- Cycle C

Dear Families,

This Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The Gospel tells us about the Magi. They were three wise men from the East that had seen a special star rising up in the sky and traveled to Jerusalem. They asked to meet with King Herod and asked him where was the child who had been born King of the Jews because they wanted to do him homage. Herod was very upset with this question. He was already the King of the Jews. He was upset someone would take away his power. Herod asked the Magi to let him know when they found him because he too wanted to do homage. But secretly he wished to learn his whereabouts so he could kill him.

The Magi followed the star to Bethlehem until it stopped over the place where the Child Jesus was. They bowed to the ground and did homage, and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. During the night they had a dream telling them not to go back to Herod, so they went back to their country taking another road.

As a family watch video in its entirety and then ask each other this question.
What gift can you give Jesus that shows your love for God and others?

Family Prayer: Lord, like the Magi help us to seek and worship you as our King. Amen.