Better Together
Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 3:22-30 – The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus is confronting the people who accused Him of being evil because He commanded demons. He is saying that that would mean Satan is undermining himself and his own work. Jesus uses a few analogies, like the one about “a house divided against itself.” Though He might be talking about a royal house, the analogy holds true for every common household and family.
Unity is important to God. In fact, God Himself, the Blessed Trinity, is a unity of Persons. At the Last Supper, Jesus prays that future believers (we) will be united as He is united with God His Father. There is no more important human unity than Marriage, and from this, the family. We must work on our unity. Do we fight with each other? Are we impatient? Are we generous? Are we meek? Do we share well? Do we try to have real conversation? Do we prioritize good family time? Think about how we can be a better family and be better to each other. Then make a resolution.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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