Rush to Him
Tuesday after Epiphany
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 6:34-44 - When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out they said, “Five loaves and two fish.” So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“When Jesus saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus wants our good. Jesus wants what is ultimately best for us. He gives the people what they spiritually need when He teaches them, and on top of that He gives them what they physically need when He feeds them (miraculously). Jesus isn’t too big to be concerned with our daily needs (“Give us today our daily bread”). The people in the Gospel who rush to follow Jesus without even bringing along food, receive God’s great care.
They learn a vital point of the spiritual life. God is more concerned with our happiness, even more than we are. If ever He has us go through a difficult time temporarily, it is only because there is more happiness that waits for us on the side of it. Let God take care of all the happy provision; it is up to us to follow wherever He goes.
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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