Splinters
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 6:39-45 - Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus gives an extreme example as an introduction to His parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person?” Today, our culture has pitifully few good role models. Think of the most famous athletes, musicians, and actors you know of. How many of the athletes are prideful, money-loving, and thuggish? How many of the musicians live hard and fast, and sexually disastrous lives? How many of the actors live broken lives full of recurring divorce and unhealthy dating. Yet these are the people whom we constantly watch and follow on TV, on the internet, in magazines.
There are a few necessary responses to the barrage of bad examples we constantly see. First, we have to be very careful about who and what we constantly watch. This means that we need to limit our media use. Yes, we need to limit our media use! Also, we need to have standards about the movies we watch, the websites we visit, and the songs we hear. (Parents need to read the lyrics of their children’s favorite songs!) Finally, we need to present positive things to our family. We need to encourage good entertainment and activities (and good media). We need to research, learn about, and put in front of our children good examples, whether they’re athletes, musicians, movie stars…or neighbors.
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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