Our Great Journey
This week our theme is “Follow the Path/ Sigue el Camino” based on Mark 1:12-15 / Marco 1:12-15
Opening Prayer:
All pray the Sign of the Cross
Lord our God, during this Lenten season renew in each of us the grace of our Baptism. Help us to realize that just as Christ lived a life obedient to your will, we are called to a life of holiness, love and service. Through prayer, works of mercy and fasting transform/change our lives and renew our heart. Amen.
In addition to our prayers from the heart, our prayer for February is The Memorare. Please pray these prayers daily to learn. (Memorare is Latin for remember. The Memorare is a Catholic prayer seeking the intercession and help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is appropriate to pray at any time, but especially appropriate during times of difficulty or distress.)
Using the Bible, invite a family member to read the Gospel aloud
.
Things to talk about:
- Share the hardest challenge/ temptation you have ever had to deal with. Did you change in any way because of this challenge?
- What emotions do you think Jesus felt while he was in the desert? What do you think he thought or prayed about when he was there?
- How much more often can we pray this Lent?
Things to do:
- On a piece of paper, write and decorate the word, ALLELUIA. Roll it up, place it on your prayer table. During Lent we do not say the “A” word.
- Create a Family Lenten Calendar, click HERE for a blank, Click HERE for some suggestions.
- Please click the link to sign up for a few items for the mercy bags for Family Faith @ Church the week of March 3. Click HERE to see the items needed for your family’s session.
- Purple is the liturgical color for Lent. List all the places you see purple in the Church today.
Closing Prayer
In this Gospel we hear of the angels ministering to Jesus. Close with the Guardian Angel Prayer asking the angels to protect your family.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard to rule and guide. Amen.
Name those who need our prayers. Close with the Sign of the Cross.
Catholic Insights
The number 40 appears often in the Bible, 40 days Noah was in the ark, the Israelites wondered in the desert for 40 years before they arrive in the Promised Land and know they are God’s chosen people, Jesus fasts and prays for 40 days in the desert to become fully prepared for doing the will of his Father.
This Gospel teaches children that when we Follow the Path even through adversity, we can learn, grow and become stronger.
Jesus comes out of the desert calling for people to repent because the Kingdom of God is near. He knows that God the Father is about to transform the universe. The Church offers us these 40 days of Lent to think about how we can become more like Jesus. We have our own desert experiences and hopefully with prayer and trust in God’s providence we emerge stronger and more joyful.
Did you know? … Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all have Jesus’ temptation in the desert in their Gospels. Mark’s account is the shortest and was the first to be written. Mark lets the facts of Jesus’ life speak for themselves.
Resources adapted from 52Sundays.com, Celebrating the Lectionary, At Home with the Word, Celebrating Families, Sunday Connection
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