October 6, 2024 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Things to talk about:

• Jesus confirms that the union of a husband and wife is not a human convention, but a bond made by God himself. Why is it important for a husband and a wife to have God at the center of their relationship?
• Why does God want men and women to be faithful to each other in their marriage? In what way does this faithfulness strengthen the family?
• Imagine that you are the child in this Gospel story. What is it like to be embraced and blessed by Jesus?

Things to do:

• At dinner, share memories from your wedding day or a special couple’s wedding. Pull out photo albums and continue the discussion.
• Crockpot Italian Wedding Soup, this delicious and easy recipe is fitting as we reflect on marriage today. 
• 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 Nuptial Blessing is a beautiful moment in a Catholic wedding ceremony. It takes place after the bride and groom have exchanged their consent and have become husband and wife. In this blessing, the celebrant prays for the married couple and asks that God give them special graces. Invite one person to lead your family in this prayer. Offer the prayer for all the married couples in your immediate and extended family and any future marriages of your children. 

O God, who by your mighty power created all things out of nothing, and, when you had set in place the beginnings of the universe, formed man and woman in your own image, making the woman an inseparable helpmate to the man, that they might be no longer two, but one flesh, and taught that what you were pleased to make one must never be divided.

And now, Lord, we implore you: may these your servants hold fast to the faith and keep your commandments; made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do; and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; (may they be blessed with children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see their children’s children.) We ask all this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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

Adapted Nuptial Blessing, click HERE for the full text.

Catholic Insights

The Pharisees often asked Jesus “trick” questions. They knew a lot about the law and tried to follow if very carefully.  Jesus never got caught in their traps. He always answered their questions with one of his own. He was more interested in the deeper meaning of the law and how the laws were meant to help us live in harmony and treat each other with love. With the disciples, Jesus further distinguished his teaching from the cultural norms of his time by applying his words equally to men and women. Jewish culture permitted only that a husband may divorce his wife. Wives were not permitted to divorce their husband for any reason, including adultery.

At the end of this Gospel the disciples tried to keep the children away from Jesus. One thought is they  may have thought Jesus was tired or too busy. The Gospel says Jesus became “indignant,” a strong word! He said the kingdom of God belonged to them and he wants us to have the kind of complete trust and dependence upon God as children do.

At first glance, the final part of this Gospel seems unconnected to the previous teaching about divorce. When read together, however, these passages present a strong picture of Jesus’ emphasis on the importance of family. By welcoming children and fostering their relationship with God, parents and families bear witness to the Kingdom of God.

God + Us should equal one more than us! He is at the center of all.

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