(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,

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,

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,

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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 (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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