October 20, 2024 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Things to talk about:

• Who would you name as one of the best leaders? Describe the qualities that make them good leaders.
• What makes Jesus a good leader?
• Do you think it was wrong for James and John to ask Jesus to do whatever they asked? Why or why not?
• In the Bible, a “cup” is a metaphor for what God has in store for someone. What do you think Jesus meant when he told James and John that they will drink the cup that he will drink?

Things to do:

• In this Gospel, Jesus talks about drinking from a cup. At what point at Mass does the priest first drink from the cup?
• Challenge your family members to try to outdo one another in service and random acts of kindness this week.
• The apostles James and John were competitive and wanted to be considered the greatest of the disciples. Create a spirit of friendly competition by playing some family games. Parents can pick one game and the kids can pick another.
• As a family register to help at Transfiguration Serves weekend. There is something everyone can do! Help with Hands On, donate cookies/candy for Sweet Care Packages, bring something for Priesthood Sunday, sign up to bring a food item for SVdP Third Saturday dinner.

Closing Prayer

The month of October is the Month of the Rosary. Pray the rosary as a family, reflecting on the Glorious Mysteries. Visit https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/rosaries/a-rosary-for-life-the-glorious-mysteries

Name those who need our prayers. Pray the Act of Contrition.

Catholic Insights

Jesus came to teach us about the Kingdom of God. Those who follow him including you and me, want to have a place in that Kingdom. Jesus reminds us that to achieve that, we are required to live as Jesus showed us — by not seeking position and power but instead becoming the servant of all.

James and John wanted to be recognized as special leaders. Jesus defines leadership differently. Using himself as our model, Jesus teaches that service to others is the call of the Christian. He makes a clear distinction between the behavior of secular rulers and their desire for power and recognition. Those who would be leaders in the Christian community must be the first ones to offer themselves to others.

We should look to Jesus and the saints for examples of what it means to serve others. If anyone in your family is named after one of the saints, research the life of that saint. If your child is not named for a saint, research the saint who shares their birth day, www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/calendar/

Discuss how that person served others and talk about how they are a model for the family member who shares the same name. When you pray, include the saints’ names, and ask them to intercede for you to have the strength and courage to serve others.

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Did you know?….. The name “tertiary” comes from the Latin word for “third.” It is used to denote those who belong to a third order religious community. Third order religious communities are generally made up of people who are either married or single and have an interest in the religious order’s way of life. These lay people do not take monastic vows but offer support to the work of the Order in terms of voluntary work, gifts of money and goods, and of study and promotion of the Order’s teaching.  Read more about Third Order Secular Communities.

Resources adapted from 52Sundays.com, Celebrating the Lectionary, At Home with the Word, Celebrating Families, Sunday Connection