You and Me
Friday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 10:13-16 - Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There are two things that we will look at to help us understand what Jesus is saying here. From there we can better understand why He is saying it. First, here is a little information about the towns Jesus rebukes: Jesus addresses Chorazin and Bethsaida by name and says, “Woe to you.” These towns, along with Capernaum, were supposed to be faithful. They should a have accepted Jesus because He had spent much time ministering there. The other towns He mentions, Tyre and Sidon, are towns that historically were unfaithful. Jesus is rebuking the supposedly faithful towns because even the notoriously unfaithful towns were more open to Him and His message.
The second important fact to note is that Jesus rebukes these towns for not accepting the message that His disciples brought to them. He says that in rejecting the disciples, they reject Him, and in rejecting Him they reject God. As Catholics, we must recognize that the apostles were our first bishops, and Peter was the first pope. Rejection of the official teachings of our pope and bishops is rejection of Christ and God the Father. Catholics are supposed to be the faithful ones. Woe to us if we reject the messengers of the Lord.
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.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
