Are you making time to listen?

"Throughout the history of God's relationship with humanity he has constantly been communicating with us.  I am convinced that in this modern time it is not that God has stopped speaking to us, but rather than we have stopped listening"  Matthew Kelly in Rediscover Catholicism.  How do you make time to listen to God?

Friday, February 1, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 10:32-39; Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40; Mk 4:26-34

Reflection:  Living our lives for God does not come easy and it does not come without sacrifices and suffering.  As the letter to the Hebrews reminds us, people have suffered for their beliefs in many ways since the days of Christ.  We must not give up when we encounter struggles, difficulties, or suffering.  Instead, we must push on, trust in our Lord, and know that all our hard work is going toward possession of eternal life in heaven.

Reflection for kids:  Other people may not always agree with what you believe or how you live your life for God.  Sometimes they may even be mean to you because you love God.  When other people are mean to us because we are following God, we can seek strength in God through prayer.  God will help us to be strong and to stand up to those who are being mean.

Big Picture:  Let God carry you through your struggles

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  Who will always help us when we are in trouble?  (God.)  How do we ask Him for help?  (Through prayer.)
     Older saints:  Have you encountered people who are unkind or hurtful to you because you are Catholic and are living your life for God?  How do you react to those people?  Do you shrink and follow their ways?  Or do you stand tall and follow God?  Sometimes it can be hard to stand up to a crowd who is gathered against you.  We have to always remember that if we are living our life for Christ, He is always on our side.  Seek God in prayer and find strength in Him in those difficult times.

Fun Fact:  We make three separate crosses prior to the reading of the Gospel to remind ourselves that we must think about God’s Word, speak God’s word, and hold God’s Word in our hearts.

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Brigid of Kildare
     What they are remembered for:  St. Brigid was a nun who founded the Abbey of Kildare.  The Abbey of Kildare contributed to the spread of Christianity in Ireland.  St. Brigid was especially known for her generosity to the poor.
     Feast day:  February 1
     Patron saint of:  Ireland, dairy workers, nuns, scholars

Daily Notes: 

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 10:19-25; PS 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Mk 4:21-25

Reflection:  We receive yet another call to evangelization in the scriptures today.  The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that we must “rouse one another to love and good works.”  How else can we do this than by being an example and by letting God’s light shine in us.  Strive today to be an example of God’s love to all those that you meet.  Only after others see God’s light in us will they long to live that way as well.

Reflection for kids:  The readings reminds us that God has asked us to follow His commands and to teach others about God and His commands as well.  This is called evangelization.

Big Picture:  Let God's light shine in you

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What is evangelization?  Do you or your family do this in your daily lives?  Who do you know that you could tell about God?
     Older saints:  Is the thought of evangelization through words still scary to you?  Do you find it easier to do good works for others than to talk to others about God?  Strive to focus more fully on doing good works and others will see God’s light in you.  Educate yourself on the teachings of the Church and prepare for questions from those who see you living your life for God.  They will see your good works and God’s light in you and they will seek to learn more about God from you.

Fun Fact:  To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world (St. Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism No. 1, 2008, p. 12).

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. John Bosco
     What they are remembered for:  St. John Bosco was blessed by numerous vivid dreams that guided his life.  He devoted his life to caring for neglected young boys.  He later founded the Salesian order.
     Feast day:  January 31

Daily Notes: 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 10:11-18; ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4; Mk 4:1-20

Reflection:  What an amazing thing Jesus has done for us.  By His death on the cross He has made those who give their lives to God “perfect forever.”  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice our sins and our evildoings will be remembered no more.  All we must do is follow the example of Jesus and obey the commands God has given us.

Reflection for Younger saints:  Through Jesus’ death on the cross our sins are remembered no more by God and we are made perfect.  Because of this we can go to heaven.  All we must do is obey God and seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Big Picture:  Our sins are remembered no more

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What does it mean to be perfect?  (We are free from sin.)  What does it mean that our sins will be remembered no more?  (That as long as we seek forgiveness for our sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God will forgive us.  We will not be punished for our sins.)  How do we seek forgiveness for our sins?  (Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.)
     Older saints:  The idea that our sins will be remembered no more can be hard to comprehend.  Because of our human nature we struggle to forgive others and to forgive ourselves.  What does it mean to you to know that God has forgiven your sins?  Have you forgiven yourself for your sins?  Have you forgiven others for their sins against you?  How can you work toward forgiveness?

Fun Fact:  Making the Sign of the Cross with holy water reminds us of our own baptism and marks us as followers of Christ.

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Aldegunais
     What they are remembered for:  St. Aldegunais was the daughter of Sts. Walbert and Bertila, and the sister of St. Waldetrudis.  She was accepted into the religious life and later founded a convent near the Sambre River.
     Feast day:  January 30
     Patron saint of:  cancer, wounds

Daily Notes: 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 10:1-10; ps 40:2 and 4ab, 7-8a, 10, 11; Mk 3:31-35

Reflection:  The readings remind us that God does not desire our material sacrifices and offerings.  He is not seeking for us to give Him physical items.  What God seeks is for us to follow His will.  He longs for us to put our trust in Him and to turn our lives over to Him.  This obedience unites us with Christ.

Big Picture:  Follow God’ s Will

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What does God want from us?  (To do God’s will.)  What does that mean?  (Instead of always doing what we want, we pray and ask God what He wants us to do.  We listen to God and do what He asks.)  How do we know God’s will?  (We pray and ask God to guide us.)
     Older saints:  How do we become united with Jesus and become His mother and His brother?  (By obeying God and doing His will.)  Is it enough to do God’s will sometimes, or do we have to trust God and seek His will all the time?  (All the time.)  Father Lorenzo Suupoli reminds us it is not enough to desire God’s will, we “must desire it how He wishes it, when He wishes it, and for the reason and purpose He wishes it.”  What does that mean to you?

Fun Fact:  We stand during portions of the Mass to show great awe and respect for God.

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  Sts. Sarbelius and Barbea
     What they are remembered for:  Sts. Sarbelius and Barbea were brother and sister.  They were martyred during the persecution that occurred under the reign of Emperor Trajan. 
     Feast day:  January 29
  
Daily Notes: 

Do we get to pick and choose?

I am here to tell you, in no minced words, that we do not get to pick and choose what we believe when it comes to the teachings of the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church is founded upon and rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and the commandments given to us by God.  We do not and cannot know more or understand more about the teachings of Jesus Christ than the leaders of the Catholic Church who are inspired by the Holy Spirit.  And how dare we assume such a thing?  We are called to obedience of Jesus and obedience of His Church here on earth. 

Take a moment to reflect on the situation of obedience parents look to establish in their own homes.  We give our children rules and expect that they obey all of those rules, rather than picking and choosing which ones they would like to follow.  The same situation has been established by God and by the Catholic Church.  God is our Father and His Church has been established here on earth to lead us.  God and the Church have called us to obedience in following the teachings of Christ and God’s commandments.  Much as we do not like our children picking and choosing which rules they will follow, God feels the same way. 

In those moments of weakness when we desire to follow another path and those around us tell us “it’s okay, the Church is just behind the times” we must pause and recognize that in that moment we are being tempted by none other than the devil.  Think back to how the story played out in the garden so many years ago.  He sees our weakness, our struggles, our desires, and he longs to tempt us and draw us near him.  He longs to pull as many sheep from the flock as he can.  We must be strong, we must hold our ground, and we must fight.  Society does not know what is best for us.  Society has been changing its stance on social and moral issues for millenia, as it follows its own whims and desires.  The Catholic Church has held fast to the truth and has remained unwavering, a true sign of its adherence to the true teachings of Christ. 

Let us pause in those moments when we think we know better than those priests “who just can’t understand what real life is like for real families.”  Let us pause and seek their council in our times of doubt and misunderstanding.  Let us dust off and open up our Catechism of the Catholic Church and consult Church teaching on the matter we are struggling with.  Let us turn to the Church and to God for guidance, rather than our next door neighbor.  For only with sound guidance can we make sound decisions.  It would seem that relying on the guidance of a Church that has been around for thousands of years, was established by Christ, is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and is the best way to go.

Are you ready to be “all in” with the Catholic Church?

Monday, January 28, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 9:15, 24-28; PS 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6; Mk 3:22-30

Reflection:  Today’s letter to the Hebrews reminds us that a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant.  This speaks to the old covenant made by God and His people (the Mosaic Covenant), which was a traditional Old Testament blood covenant.  In this type of covenant animals were killed, cut in half, and the parties of the covenant walked through the halves of the animals to symbolize what was due if someone broke the covenant.  Needless to say, we have failed to live up to the covenant with God, which means that we are to die for our transgressions.  However, God, in His great mercy, sent His son to take our place.  Jesus’ death is the death referred to in today’s reading, and His death abolished the old covenant and freed us from the punishment that was due.  Since His death abolished the old covenant, is allowed for the new covenant to be established.  This new covenant is so much greater than the old because it promises us mercy instead of only justice, and allows us to receive the promised inheritance of heaven despite our failures.

Big Picture:  Jesus took our place

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What is a covenant?  (A promise made between God and His people.  God promises to look after His people, and they promise to listen to and obey God.)  Do you know why Jesus died on the cross?  (Our sins made it so that we could not go to heaven.  He suffered for our sins to make it so we can go to heaven.)  Why did Jesus do this for us?  (Because He loves us and wants us to go to heaven to be with Him forever.)
     Older saints:  What does it mean to you that Jesus took your place and died instead of you?  How will you repay Him?

Fun Fact:  The Mosaic Covenant was established in the book of Exodus (Chapters 19-24).

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Thomas Aquinas
     What they are remembered for:  When St. Thomas was only five years old his father placed him under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino.  His teachers were surprised at how he surpassed other students in academics and in virtue.  St. Thomas was a great author, priest, and theologian.  He was offered numerous high position in his time but always sought to humbly serve our Lord through his every day work.
     Feast day:  January 28
     Patron saint of:  Universities and students

Daily Notes: 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Readings:

Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15 ; 1 Cor 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Reflection:  Try to place yourself within the setting of the Gospel reading today.  Can you even imagine sitting before the feet of Jesus, listening to him proclaim the great works to be accomplished by the Messiah, and then to hear Him say that He is indeed the Messiah who will accomplish all those great deeds?  Imagine the silence and awe that must have fallen upon that room that day.  Now, think of what we take part in every time we attend Mass.  We hear the good news proclaimed in the Gospel, we are reminded that Jesus is our savior, and then we kneel before Christ in the Eucharist as we remember that He died on the cross for us.  Every time we attend Mass we get to experience the same joy and awe that the followers in the Gospel reading experienced. 

Big Picture:  Stand in awe of Christ

Discussion Starters:

Younger saints:  In the Gospel today we see Jesus read a portion of scripture from the book of Isaiah.  When he finishes reading from the scroll Jesus says:  “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  What does Jesus mean when He says this?  (Jesus is telling the people that He is the man that will accomplish or has accomplished all the things that Isaiah is writing about.  Jesus is proclaiming that He is the Savior of the world.)  How do you think the people felt when they heard this?

Older saints:  Reflect on what it is that we take part in each time we attend Mass.  What are the different parts of the Mass?  (Introductory Rite, The Liturgy of the Word, The Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Concluding Rite).  What is the high point of the Mass?  (The Eucharistic Prayer within The Liturgy of the Eucharist).  Why is this the high point of the Mass?  (This is when the assembly joins Christ in recognizing the good works of God and in the offering of sacrifice).

Scripture Verse for the Week:  “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”  Luke 4:21

You are now entering the mission field:  Offer up prayers for someone who hurt you this week (Spiritual Works of Mercy:  To bear wrongs patiently).

Notes:

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Daily Readings:
2 Tm 1:1-8; ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10; Mk 3:20-21

Reflection:  St. Paul gives us a great pep-talk today in his second letter to Timothy.  His words are rather striking as they call us forth to great things.  St. Paul reminds us of our need to rekindle our fire and our passion for Christ.  As we set out to bring Christ to the world we will be met with hardship, and people (even our families) may even think we have lost our minds.  But, we are not to be cowards, we are to be strong, we are to stand firm, and we are to be overjoyed to share the good news of Christ.   

Big Picture:  Rekindle the fire in your soul

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  Do you know who wrote today’s first reading, which was a letter to St. Timothy?  (St. Paul.)  Who is St. Paul?  (At first St. Paul didn’t believe in Jesus.  Once He understood all the great things Jesus did and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, St. Paul wanted everyone to know about the good news of Jesus.  He spent the rest of his life teaching others about Jesus.)  Has he written any other books in the Bible?  (St. Paul wrote 13 books in the Bible.  All of his writings were in the form of letters to communities or individual people.) 
     Older saints:  Are you sometimes scared to tell others about God?  Did you find St. Paul’s letter to Timothy to be a good reminder that you aren’t the only one to feel this way?  What do you think about the fact that even Jesus’ family thought He had lost His mind in the way He had devoted His life to serving and teaching others?  Do you ever feel like others will think the same thing about you if you devote your life in service to God?

Fun Fact:  The word Gospel means “good news”.

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Timothy
     Key aspect of their life:  St. Timothy joined St Paul on his second missionary journey while St. Paul was preaching in Lystra, and became a close friend to St. Paul.  Following his time with St. Paul, St. Timothy travel to Ephesus and became their first bishop.  He was later stoned to death due to his opposition to the pagan festival of Katagogian.
     Feast day:  January 26

Daily Notes: 

Friday, January 25, 2013

Daily Readings:
Acts 22:3-16; PS 117:1bc, 2; Mk 16:15-18

Reflection:  We see in Paul that we are never so far from Christ that we cannot be called back to honor, serve, and praise His name.  Paul was persecuting Christians, yet God called on Him to become a great missionary to share the good news of Christ with all.  While our call from God may not be as awe inspiring as Paul’s was, we have all been called by God with this same mission.  We are all called to go out and to proclaim the Gospel.  God has blessed us all in different ways and we must use those varied talents to bring others to God.

Big Picture:  We are all called to be missionaries

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What is a missionary?  (Someone who shares the good news of Jesus with others.)  Why do we do this?  (Because Jesus tells us that anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.  We want everyone to be able to go to heaven and be with Jesus, so we must teach them about Jesus.)  Who were the first missionaries?  (The apostles.  Jesus sent them out to teach others about God.)
     Older saints:  Paul was a great persecutor of Christians.  We see this in how his treatment and persecution was well known by Ananias.  In spite of his persecution of Christians, and therefore his great sins against God, God still loved Paul and wanted Paul to know and serve Him.  What does this make you think and feel about your own life?  How has God called you from your sinfulness to serve Him?  How can you more fully serve God by bringing the good news of Christ to others?

Fun Fact:  St. Paul participated in the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. (Acts of the Apostles 7:58)

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Apollo
     Key aspect of their life:  St. Apollo was born in Egypt and spent forty years in the desert around Thebes.  He founded a community of monks in Egypt and became their abbot.
     Feast day:  January 25

Daily Notes: 

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 7:25—8:6; ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17; Mk 3:7-12

Reflection:  The readings today paint a beautiful picture for us of who Jesus is.  We see that He is humble, as He wants to point the way to God, rather than to be known for His miracles.  We are reminded of His holy and sinless self.  We are reminded that He offered Himself as the one, true sacrifice for our sins, though He was without blemish and without need to offer sacrifices on His own behalf.  Finally, we are reminded that Jesus has taken His place at the right hand of God and He lives forever to make intercessions on our behalf.  All we must do is seek Him and strive to be close to Him.

Big Picture:  Follow Jesus and you will find God

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  Is there more than one God?  (No, there is only one God, but God is made of three persons.)  Who are the three persons that make up God?  (God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit).  What is another name that we give the three persons of God?  (The Blessed Trinity).
     Older saints:  The letter to the Hebrews tells us that we can approach God through Jesus’ intercession.  What does this mean to you?  If Jesus is God and a member of the blessed Trinity, then what does it mean that we can approach God through Jesus?  (The idea of God and the blessed Trinity is a very abstract idea, and can be hard to visualize and understand.  However, scripture makes it easier for us to grasp who Jesus is because of the stories and examples of His life.  Because of this it is easier for us to relate to Jesus, communicate with Him, and strive to live like Him.  As we strive to relate to, to live like, and to pray to Jesus, He brings our prayers to God the Father in heaven.)

Fun Fact:  We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus.  He teaches us through the Catholic Church (St. Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism No. 1, 2008, p. 13).

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Francis de Sales
     Key aspect of their life:  St. Francis set out to convert over 60,000 Calvinists back to Catholicism with only his cousin by his side.  After three years of bitter cold winters and no conversions, his cousin left him.  St. Francis was a very patient man and he continued to seek to convert souls back to Catholicism by writing his sermons on paper and slipping them under people’s doors.  By the time St. Francis left to go home it is believed he converted 40,000 Calvinists back to Catholicism.  How can you be like St. Francis de Sales and bring more people to Catholicism?
     Feast day:  January 24
     Patron saint of:  journalists, writers

 Daily Notes: 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Daily Readings:
HEB 7:1-3, 15-17; PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4; MK 3:1-6

Reflection:  In our Gospel reading today we see Jesus seeking to soften the hearts of the Pharisees.  Jesus gives them an opportunity to see the good He is doing and to turn toward Him, rather than turning against Him.  Much to Jesus’ disappointment, they chose evil and sought to put Him to death.  Jesus offers us this same opportunity to turn toward Him in our life.  In those moments when our conscience says we should choose a better path, it is Jesus tugging at our heart and asking us to choose to follow Him.  Follow Jesus and do good.

Big Picture:  Follow Jesus

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What does it mean to follow Jesus?  (To obey His commandments and to always work to be kind and to care for others.)  Is this always easy to do?  (No, sometimes it means that we don’t get to do what we want or to have all that we want.)  What is our reward for following Jesus?  (We get to go to heaven). 
     Older saints:  Could Jesus have performed this miracle in private so He would not risk angering the Pharisees and putting His life at risk?  Why did Jesus perform this miracle in front of the Pharisees instead of doing it in private?  (He wanted to give them an opportunity to turn and follow Him.  He is always seeking to give us chances to choose to serve Him.)  At what times in your life have you experienced Jesus tugging on your heart and giving you a second chance to choose Him?

Fun Fact:  Mass is celebrated worldwide every day of the year except one, Good Friday.

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Marianne Cope
     Key aspect of their life:  When she was in 8th grade her father became unable to provide for the family and she took a position in a factory to support her family.  Once her siblings were older in age, she pursued religious life in the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis.  She later became a teacher and directed the opening of the first two Catholic hospitals in New York.  In 1883 she left New York with six other members of her Order to provide aid to lepers in Hawaii.  Care of these lepers had already been refused by 50 other Orders.
     Feast day:  January 23
     Patron saint of:  lepers, outcasts, those with HIV/AIDS, Hawaii
Daily Notes: 

Is the Church behind the times on contraception? Or are we just missing the boat?

If we told you there was a method for planning your family that is 100% natural, is 99% effective at postponing a pregnancy, can be as effective as in-vitro fertilization in achieving a pregnancy when used under the guidance of a certified medical consultant, has a divorce rate of less than 5%, and could save you over $200 a year, would you want to learn more about it?  The method we are speaking about is called Natural Family Planning.  For some of you this may be a new term, for others a misunderstood practice, and for others still it may be the beautiful form of family planning that you use in your own home. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, we pray that you would listen with open hearts and minds to the message we have for you.

 

Natural Family Planning is a natural way of reading the body’s signs of fertility that is used to either achieve or postpone pregnancy. To clarify, Natural Family Planning is not a natural form of contraception or birth control.  The Church teaches that the use of contraception to prevent new life from being conceived is in contradiction to God’s natural law in that it separates the unitive part of the marital embrace from the procreative part of the marital embrace.  The Catholic Church has consistently taught that the use of contraception or sterilization is in opposition to natural law, and is therefore intrinsically wrong and constitutes a mortal sin when done with full knowledge of Church teaching and with full consent of the will.  The belief that contraception is intrinsically wrong is not a new belief, nor is it one that has been held only by the Catholic Church.  In fact, up until 1930 all Protestant denominations, even Martin Luther himself, followed this same belief.  It was only after social pressures to conform that Protestants changed their stance on contraception. 

Natural Family Planning is very different from contraception in many ways.  God has made all of our bodies in beautiful and magnificent ways. He has also blessed us with brilliant scientific minds who have been able to find natural signs that the body produces to guide us in whether the female body is in a state of fertility or infertility. These natural signs are then used by a husband and a wife as they discern whether or not God is calling them to have more children. Husbands and wives are taught how to read these signs through a series of courses or one on one meetings with a practitioner. The added bonuses to practicing Natural Family Planning are that there is little to no cost to practicing Natural Family Planning, it is completely natural, it requires no trips to the pharmacy every month for costly supplies, it does not have the abortive effects or other negative side effects of contraception, and it is morally accepted and promoted by the Catholic Church.

 

Now, for those who may have heard of the term Natural Family Planning, many associate this method of family planning with the ineffective calendar rhythm method. First, this is not the calendar rhythm method. That is a method of the past that is highly ineffective and Natural Family Planning has come a long way since the calendar rhythm method was introduced. The Natural Family Planning methods of today are scientifically based and have research to back up their effectiveness. While Natural Family Planning has come to be associated with having a large family, this is not always the case. Neither scripture nor Church teachings convey the message that you must bear as many children as you are physically capable of bearing in order to follow God’s commands. Scripture and Church teaching do, however, ask us to be fruitful and to be open to life. Only a husband, a wife, and God can know what their physical, spiritual, financial, and emotional situation is. The Church asks us to prayerfully discern our physical, spiritual, financial, and emotional state in life and our ability to welcome another child into our family. The beautiful part of practicing Natural Family Planning is that it involves prayerful discernment every month as to whether or not God is calling your family to welcome another child.

 

While some couples enter into the use of Natural Family Planning with a set family size in their head, through their discernment of God’s call and the openness to life that comes with practicing Natural Family Planning, they may end up welcoming more children into their family than they had first planned. But, this is not the calling for all families. For those families wishing to postpone a pregnancy, Natural Family Planning is over 99% effective.

 

Now to those who are already embracing Natural Family Planning within their own homes. We ask that you would prayerfully discern becoming a spokesperson for Natural Family Planning. Whatever the method is that you practice, we can always use more families to share their story and their testament to Natural Family Planning. Even if it is just taking a more active role in your own parish and giving a name and face to the beauty of Natural Family Planning, we would love to have you on board. Jesus calls us all to be fishers of men and to seek to draw others to the faith. What better way to do that than by bringing other families in your parish your testament and the truth and beauty of Natural Family Planning?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 6:10-20; ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9 and 10c; Mk 2:23-28

Reflection:  Today’s letter to the Hebrews was the uplifting reminder I needed to keep pressing forward.  Sometimes we can feel like our prayers, reflections, and time in service to others can be getting us nowhere and accomplishing nothing.  This reading reminds us that our labor never goes unnoticed by God.  We cannot strive for honors here on earth, for our praise will come from God when we get to heaven.  We also must heed the warning to not become sluggish in our faith life.  We must continue to strive for greatness and to give our time with God and our service to others the priority that they deserve.

Big Picture:  Make time for God every day

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What does the word sluggish mean?  (To be inactive and lacking energy.)  What would it mean to be sluggish in our faith?  (To not work every day to pray, to serve God, to serve others, and to learn more about the Catholic faith.)  Why is it important to pray every day?  (This is how we talk to God and God talks to us, so this is the most important thing that we can do in our day.) 
     Older saints:  Should we be seeking honor and praise from others for all of our accomplishments?  Do you spend time every day in prayer and reflection with God?  Do you think you should receive honors and rewards from God for doing this?  (Our reward will come when we get to spend all of eternity with God in heaven.  Until then, this behavior is simply expected so that we may grow in our faith and in our understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church.)

Fun Fact:  Someone asked St. Francis de Sales how much one should pray, the Doctor of the Church replied that you should pray a half hour each day, unless you’re busy. If you’re busy, you should pray an hour.

Saint of the day: 
     Name:  St. Vincent Pallottiano
     Key aspect of their life:  St. Vincent struggled for a time with his studies.  His mother sought the advice of a local priest who suggested they pray a Novena for Vincent.  Once the Novena was completed he became the brightest student in his class.  St. Vincent was also filled with a deep desire to care for and do penance for the poor and those less fortunate than himself.
     Feast day:  January 22

Daily Notes: 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Daily Readings:
Heb 5:1-10; PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4; Mk 2:18-22

Reflection:  The reading from the letter to the Hebrews reminds us of the beautiful, and yet very human, call to the priesthood.  A man doesn’t choose to be a priest; God calls him to that vocation.  It is easy to view our priests as perfect because they are the leaders of the Church.  But, we are reminded that they sin and are flawed just like we are.  This helps them to know the struggles in our lives because they have had the same struggles.  This helps them guide us in resisting those temptations and in drawing closer to God.

Big Picture:  Seek guidance in your priests

Discussion Starters:
     Younger saints:  What is a vocation?  (A vocation is how God wants you to serve Him in your life.  This is different from a job because it affects everything about your life.  The different vocations are:  Priest, religious sister or brother, married, single.)  Who is a priest?  (A priest is a man that God asks to serve Him by helping to lead His Church here on earth.  A priest doesn’t get married because their vocation is to devote their whole life to God and His Church.)  Is a priest perfect?  (No.  Priests are people, just like us.  They make mistakes just like we do, but they are always trying to serve God just like us.)
     Older saints:  What does is mean to discern something?  (To ask God for guidance and listen in prayer for what God wants you to do in your life.)  What are the different vocations?  (Priest, religious sister or brother, married, single)  Have you prayerfully discerned what you think your vocation will be?

Fun Fact:  The priest’s washing of his hands prior to the consecration is symbolic of him cleansing himself of sin.

Saint of the day: 

Name:  St. Agnes
Key aspect of their life:  She was very beautiful and many young men wanted to marry her.  They brought her many gifts and promises in an attempt to win her over.  She would always say “Jesus Christ is my only spouse.”  St. Agnes was only 13 years old when she suffered martyrdom for her faith. 
Feast day:  January 21
Patron saint of:  The children of Mary

Daily Notes: