Our Great Journey
This week our theme is “Act Justly?” based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 / Marcos 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
All pray the Sign of the Cross
Lord, our God, you are faithful to your people, even when we have wandered far from your ways. May we listen to your Word and rejoice to walk in your ways. Amen.
In addition to our prayers from the heart, our prayer for September is the Hail Mary. Please pray these prayers daily to learn them.
Using the Bible, invite a family member to read the Gospel aloud.
Things to talk about:
- Why does Jesus call the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites?
- Jesus teaches us that peoples’ words and actions can cause evil. In what way do words and actions hurt people today?
- In what way do people use words and actions on social media and gaming platforms for good or for bad?
Things to do:
- In this Gospel Jesus tells us how not to behave, but the Responsorial Psalm (between the first and second readings) guides us on how to behave. What was Sunday’s response?
- Jesus lists things that come into a person’s heart that “defile” them. These things enter our minds and hearts and leave little room for the things of God. This week get rid of the “garbage” in your life. Write on a piece of paper any mean or bad things that you hold in your heart. Get a garbage bag and invite each family member to put their garbage in the bag. Go to the sacrament of Reconciliation as a family to receive absolution and forgiveness for any offenses against God.
- Come to Encounter this Thursday, September 5. Spend some time with Jesus and ask him where he needs you to show His love.
Closing Prayer
Pope Francis Prayer
Repeat this phrase from Pope Francis 7 times together:
Jesus, make my heart more like yours.
Name those who need our prayers. Pray the Our Father.
Catholic Insights
Jesus tells us that sin starts inside us from our minds and hearts. To sin means knowing that something is wrong and choosing to do it anyway. Jesus tells us to search our hearts to think about whether what we’ve done is really wrong and hurtful.
Jesus wants us to know the difference between what seems wrong and what is wrong so we can make choices to live as his disciples and build up God’s kingdom. The work we are called to do must come from our hearts and minds.
In this Gospel, the Pharisees criticize Jesus for not following specific rules. Rules and traditions are necessary but Jesus teaches that we can’t get lost in them and lose sight of what is at the core of Christianity: living lives that show we love God and others. Jesus said that keeping our hands clean is not as important as keeping our hearts clean.
In other words, we are called to act justly. What does the word justice mean in your family? What can you do to make the world a better place?
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