Headlong
Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 4:24-30 - Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: ‘Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.’”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus has courage. He isn’t a loud-mouth. He isn’t a hot-head. He doesn’t need the last word. But he always says what needs to be said, even if it isn’t easy. Here, in the synagogue at Nazareth, He is speaking to people whom He knows well, many of whom He has known since His childhood. And He tells them something they do not want to hear. Though He speaks out of love, He also speaks plainly and clearly.
How often do we speak up when we should? It is not easy to tell co-workers that they should stop doing something immoral, or to tell friends that what they did was wrong, or to tell relatives that you are breaking a family holiday tradition for the sake of your faith. It is also difficult to tell a stranger that God loves them, or to tell the truth when it means you may suffer. Jesus suffered for speaking the truth. We shouldn’t expect anything different. We are asked to be witnesses to the truth. While this might not be an easy mission, it is a mission of love. Sometimes loving isn’t easy.
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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