Worthwhile
Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 8: 27 - 33 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke[MD6] this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“… the Son of Man must suffer greatly”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Peter misunderstood what many Christians still misunderstand: that God has the power to draw good out of suffering. Christians have called this the “scandal of the Cross”. The Cross of Christ looks like a complete and utter failure. God hangs dead. Yet (what we don’t find out until later in the story is that) this is the moment of victory. Christ enters sin, and suffering, and death to conquer sin, and suffering, and death. His Resurrection is supreme proof of this victory. But He wins it by His death.
Christ suffers, and so we must suffer. But as we suffer, we must understand like Him (even if no one else recognizes it) that though painful, suffering is not absolutely evil or absolutely bad. As St. Paul tells St. Timothy and us, “if we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12). Suffering can, and should, unite us to Christ. Let’s consider in prayer what situations we are suffering in that are out of our hands… Let us not waste these sufferings, they are some of the most important links we have to unite us to Christ, to benefit our souls, and to benefit the souls of others. Remember, “we will also reign”!
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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