The Twelve
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 10: 1-7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus instructs The Twelve not to preach in pagan or Samaritan towns, but instead to focus on the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” First we must understand that this is a temporary instruction. Jesus certainly wants Gentiles and Samaritans to be evangelized and to come to know the true God. In fact, later the Holy Spirit will specifically inspire St. Peter to open the doors to the Gentiles, and Jesus will instruct St. Paul to do the same. It is intentional, though, that first the apostles would preach the Kingdom of God to the Jews.
In the modern world we have a situation with some similarities. Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis have all spoken about the “New Evangelization.” In part, this entails readdressing the people of faith who have grown lukewarm in their Christianity. They, like the Jews of Jesus’ time, need to be again converted and strengthened in the Faith. A stronger Christianity will be more effective at evangelizing the rest of the world, the modern-day pagans. Are we still sharing the faith by word and deed, and perhaps challenging other Christians to do the same?
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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