Things to talk about:

• Is there anything you would sell all that you have to be able to purchase? What is it, and why is it so special?
• What are the values you have as a family? What are the things in life your family considers the most important?
• What do you think Jesus is trying to help us understand by telling these parables?

Things to do:

• Treasure Hunt: Create an indoor or outdoor treasure hunt to do together for fun. Make sure that you prepare a treat to find that can be the treasure. Treasure Run will help you make printable clue cards using everyday indoor and outdoor items you have at home.
• Make a list of your family values to display in a place where everyone in your home will see them each day.
• Celebrate the Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim with your grandparents.  Plan a feast to share and invite them over.  If your grandparents live far away, call them or send them cards to share with them how you are grateful for them and how you are keeping them in your prayers on this special feast day. 

Closing Prayer

St. Anne and St. Joachim, please pray for our family.  Pray for us as we learn to place value in the things that are most important so we can better serve the Kingdom of God.

Our Father Prayer

Name anyone who needs prayer, reply, “Lord, hear our prayers.”  Close with the Sign of the Cross.     

Catholic Insight

In this week’s gospel, we hear Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven.  He uses parables of merchants who have many things that are valuable, however when they find something that is of greater value, they are willing to sell all of these other things to be able to purchase the more valuable item.  This is an opportunity for us to reflect on what it is we place value in, and how we place these things into service of the Kingdom of God.

July 26th Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim: This week we will celebrate the Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of Mother Mary.  St. Joachim was a shepherd in Nazareth who supplied the temple with sheep for sacrifices.  St. Anne was born in Bethlehem.  St. Anne and St. Joachim were married, and after a period of prayer and fasting, God sent an angel to each of them to tell them they would have a baby girl and to name her Mary.  After Mary was born, they had her dedicated to God at the temple in Jerusalem.  Mary was married to Joseph and gave birth to God’s Son, Jesus.   St. Anne and St. Joachim are patron saints of grandparents.   We can learn a lot about family values and how to serve the Kingdom of God from St. Anne and St. Joachim.  To learn more about them, click here.