Family Bible Study - First Sunday of Advent

Gospel Passage
Luke 21:25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on
the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the
waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming
upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they
will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28
Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near.” 34 “Be on guard so that your
hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the
worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For
it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at
all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things
that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Questions for Discussion:
1. Just like we have the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall), the
church has “seasons.” We are entering into the church’s season of Advent.
Advent means “coming.” Who is coming that we are getting ready for? When
is that person coming?

2. Jesus talks about his second coming when he says, “they will see the Son of
Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” How are you preparing
yourself for this coming, so that it won’t “catch you unexpectedly”?

3. Jesus tells us to “be ready at all times.” We’re called to be watching for Him, to be alert to Him, to His voice, to His action, especially in the sacraments. How much do you pay attention at Mass? What can you do to become more alert?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Christ the King

FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING
There is a saying in Theology: "The Church prays what she believes." We pray to God the Father in the Preface for the Feast of Christ the King. "You annointed Jesus Christ, Your only Son, with the oil of gladness, as the eternal Priest and universal King. As Priest He offered His life on the altar of the Cross and redeemed the human race as this one perfect sacrifice of peace. As King He claims dominion over all creation that He may present to You, His almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace."
As we pray today, so we believe that Jesus showed what kind of King He was by dying on the Cross. The Kingdom that He gives to the Father embraces all and brings holiness and salvation to all.
used with permission = Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Christ the King

Gospel Passage
John 18:33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus,
and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do
you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate
replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have
handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My
kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my
followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are
a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and
for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to
the truth listens to my voice.”

Questions
1. We celebrate the feast of Christ the King. The whole point of life is to enter
into His Kingdom. How do we enter into His Kingdom?

2. The Son of God took flesh and was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary “in
order to testify to the truth about God the Father.” What do you think the most important truth is that Jesus came to testify to?

3. Jesus says, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” How
hard do you try to listen carefully to Jesus’ voice everyday? How well do you
do those things that Jesus asks — in the readings of the Bible, in prayer —
every day? How well do you put what Jesus says into practice?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Go Cooking, Moms - Saturday Tip!

Add a heaping teaspoon of salt to the water when hardboiling eggs to prevent the shells from cracking.

Sunday Gospel Message - Sunday, 11/15/09 - Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
As we come near to the end of the liturgical year and
prepare for Advent, the Church asks us to focus on the end
of our lives and on the end of time. It is a reminder that we
will reign with God so we need now to live our lives aware
that we are destined to live with the Lord Jesus. Time has an
end; eternity does not. Jesus reminds us that we do not
know the day or the hour when times ceases and eternity
begins, so we need to be ready each day.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Sunday, 11/15/09 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Mark 13:24 “But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be
falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then
they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.
27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 “From the fig tree learn
its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you
know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking
place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this
generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor
the Son, but only the Father.

Questions for Discussion:
1. 1. Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass
away.” His words are eternal, they last forever. Do you spend time daily listening to the words of Jesus and following Him?

2. Jesus says that only the Father in heaven knows the “day or the hour” of
the end of the world. Jesus said that not even He knew exactly when it would
take place. If even Jesus didn’t know, can any earthly person know? What should your response be to such claims?

3. Since we do not know the day or the hour, it could come anytime.
What should you do to be ready? What can you do each day to prepare yourself for Heaven?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Go Cooking, Moms - Saturday Tip!

When hosting a holiday get-together or party, it's not necessary to have more than 4 appetizers. Serving two hot and two cold ones should be plenty to satisfy everyone.

Family Bible Study - Sunday, November 8th, 2009 - 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Mark 12:38 As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39
and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!
40 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long
prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 41 He sat down
opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the
treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and
put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called
his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in
more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them
have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put
in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Questions for Discussion:
1. Who gives more: the person who has only one penny and gives it away to
help someone else? – or a person who has a million dollars and gives one
hundred dollars to the poor? Jesus says the person who gave away ALL of his
money to the poor and has none left.

2. How much money — of your allowance, or gifts, or piggy bank money —
do you think you could give as a young person to build up God’s church?
What do you think would be a generous amount to give away and why?

used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Sunday, November 8th, 2009 - Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
When we give and share as the Lord requests of us, the Lord takes care of us. The widow in Zarephath used up all her food to feed Elijah. Her jar of flour and her jug of oil did not run out. Her trust in God was rewarded. The poor widow in the Gospel was rewarded by Jesus for giving of her poverty. Trusting in God and trusting God is rewarded by God.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence