What Are They Like?
Wednesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 7:31-35 - Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
If we are honest with ourselves, which most people (including us) are not enough, we must admit that our generation (our times, our culture, our society) is very, very sick. We are being asked, almost forced, by our culture to accept any person’s desire, or idea, or lifestyle as if it is normal, healthy, and good. We’re sick! It is frowned upon to talk openly about God or Christian morality. In our public schools, we can’t talk about these things. We’re sick! Our entertainment is filled with rampant sexual sin, unhealthy interest in evil things, and glorified violence and gore. In kids’ books, vampires are the good guys, and zombies are fun. We’re sick!
We cannot live like our generation lives. Our culture is sick, and we need to be vocal about the problem. If we knew that half of our neighbors had a life-threatening disease and didn’t realize it, would we be good neighbors if we kept silent about it? Many of our neighbors do have a disease, a spiritual disease, much worse than any physical illness. Our prayers, our lifestyle, our courage in speaking the truth—despite any uncomfortable embarrassment that comes with it—can help to heal our neighbors, our generation, from a most terrible disease.
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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