My Kin
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 12:46-50- While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus is the single greatest supporter and protector of families, and His idea of the family will always be greater than ours. He made the first family. But even families are not more important than the will of God. Jesus is constantly reminding His listeners in the Gospels that their first obligation is toward God. God won’t ever will anything bad for our family (or any family), but God will ask us to sacrifice any unhealthy attachment we might have to our family for the sake of His will.
We have to make sure that we are not attached to our family’s will, instead of God’s. We have to see our long-standing Sunday or holiday traditions as second to Mass. We have to see our reputation in the sight of other families as second to how we look in the sight of God. We have to see our plans for our children as second to God’s plans for them. If we want our own will for our family (no matter how good our plans seem) instead of God’s will, then these attachments are idols. Our natural family is so good. But the family of God is even more important.
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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