In Your Hearing
Thursday after Epiphany
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 4:14-22 – Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, / because he has anointed me / to bring glad tidings to the poor. / He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives / and recovery of sight to the blind, / to let the oppressed go free, / and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, / because He has anointed Me.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus’ hometown all spoke highly of Him and were amazed at His words. Afterwards, though, Jesus criticized this group for having a lack of faith. They certainly were interested in Him, approved (at first), and were even amazed by Him. They were interested in Jesus working wonders for them to see, but they weren’t interested in placing their faith in Him. It is exactly because of this lack of faith, the Gospels later tell us, that Jesus doesn’t do many wonders there.
Many times people with little or no faith want to see God do miracles. They want to see these out of interest or amazement, maybe proof. These might not be wholly bad. But it is not amazement and interest that will make God respond with miracles, it is faith. Faith (our reliance on God) causes Him to act on our behalf. God gives us the virtue of faith at our Baptism. We should take great care of it: grow it (pray, study, reading about saints, fellowship, etc) and protect it (from falsehood in media, entertainment, bad relationships, etc). What helps our faith? Do these. What hurts our faith? Avoid these.
Together as a family pray a portion of the Rosary (i.e. – very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture 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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