Young Family
Pray It!
For Holy Week
During Holy Week, March 30- April 4, we remember the hardest and the most wonderful part of the story of Jesus. First, the hardest part: Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and put to death. Then the most wonderful part: Just when it looked like all had been lost, he was raised from the dead!
But that's getting ahead of the story- a story that is worth reading slowly and prayerfully. Holy Week is a good week for the family to gather and read, reflect and pray about the story of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection. If you follow St. Mark's Gospel, here is one schedule for the reading:
Monday: Mark 14:1-26
Tuesday: Mark 14:27-52
Wednesday Mark 14:53-72
Thursday: Mark 15:1-21
Good Friday: Mark 15:22-47
Saturday: Mark 16:1-4
During Holy Week, March 30- April 4, we remember the hardest and the most wonderful part of the story of Jesus. First, the hardest part: Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and put to death. Then the most wonderful part: Just when it looked like all had been lost, he was raised from the dead!
But that's getting ahead of the story- a story that is worth reading slowly and prayerfully. Holy Week is a good week for the family to gather and read, reflect and pray about the story of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection. If you follow St. Mark's Gospel, here is one schedule for the reading:
Monday: Mark 14:1-26
Tuesday: Mark 14:27-52
Wednesday Mark 14:53-72
Thursday: Mark 15:1-21
Good Friday: Mark 15:22-47
Saturday: Mark 16:1-4
Read It!
God's Vulnerability
In Jesus, God saves us by becoming so vulnerable that we are able to kill him in a vile and humiliating way. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus assure us that God’s offer of friendship will never be withdrawn, no matter what we do. If the cross did not result in a withdrawal of the offer, then nothing we do will lead to a change of God’s heart. We can, however, refuse the offer. Friendship is a mutual relationship, and a person has to accept the offer; he or she cannot be coerced or tricked into it. And any human being’s final refusal of God’s friendship breaks God’s heart. Still, God does not turn away from such a person in anger and rage. God lives eternally with a broken heart. That’s how vulnerable God wants to be.
Loving God, I pray for the wisdom to never turn away from your friendship or take advantage of your love for me.
—William A. Barry, SJ, in Lenten Meditations: Growing in Friendship with God
As parents, we can relate to God’s vulnerability as described in this meditation. There is a saying that having a child is like putting limbs on your heart and setting it free in the world. We have this intense love for our children—no matter what—that indeed makes us vulnerable.
In my family’s experience, we have had many a talk with our teenaged daughter about the extent of our love for her. Afraid that in these delicate years ahead she might lose her way at some point, make some mistake she thinks is unforgivable, or something awful might happen that tears her away from us, we have tried to make it perfectly clear that we will ALWAYS love her, and that she is welcome home under absolutely any circumstances. We probably give her that speech more often than necessary, but we’re doing all we can to drill it deep into her psyche. You are always loved, you are always welcome, and nothing will ever change that. There is a lot that can happen in this world—sometimes by one’s own choices and sometimes by force—and nothing terrifies us more than losing our daughter. Indeed, if she ever turns her back on us we would be completely heartbroken, but we wouldn’t give up on her. Ever.
Imagine that love we have as parents is merely a small reflection of the vulnerable, all-invested love that God has for us all. God’s heart walks this earth by the billions. He carries a perfect love, even greater than that of a parent for a child, for each and every one of us. For me, that’s unfathomable. Jesus tries to give us a sense of it in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but as we know, Jesus used parables to give people a glimpse of understanding into something far greater than they could possibly comprehend. Thus, that parable shows us that the love of the forgiving father is just the beginning.
Now here’s the challenge. The all-invested, life-changing love that a parent has for a child is also just the beginning. We are called to be disciples on this earth, to serve others and to treat others as Jesus would. Does that not mean that the intense love between a parent and child should be the same love we offer every child of God?
Father of us all, teach us to love all of your children as we love our own, so that everyone of this earth may glimpse the unfathomable love you have for us. Amen.
This is part four of a seven-part series. Join us each Wednesday for Growing in Friendship with God This Lent
In Jesus, God saves us by becoming so vulnerable that we are able to kill him in a vile and humiliating way. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus assure us that God’s offer of friendship will never be withdrawn, no matter what we do. If the cross did not result in a withdrawal of the offer, then nothing we do will lead to a change of God’s heart. We can, however, refuse the offer. Friendship is a mutual relationship, and a person has to accept the offer; he or she cannot be coerced or tricked into it. And any human being’s final refusal of God’s friendship breaks God’s heart. Still, God does not turn away from such a person in anger and rage. God lives eternally with a broken heart. That’s how vulnerable God wants to be.
Loving God, I pray for the wisdom to never turn away from your friendship or take advantage of your love for me.
—William A. Barry, SJ, in Lenten Meditations: Growing in Friendship with God
As parents, we can relate to God’s vulnerability as described in this meditation. There is a saying that having a child is like putting limbs on your heart and setting it free in the world. We have this intense love for our children—no matter what—that indeed makes us vulnerable.
In my family’s experience, we have had many a talk with our teenaged daughter about the extent of our love for her. Afraid that in these delicate years ahead she might lose her way at some point, make some mistake she thinks is unforgivable, or something awful might happen that tears her away from us, we have tried to make it perfectly clear that we will ALWAYS love her, and that she is welcome home under absolutely any circumstances. We probably give her that speech more often than necessary, but we’re doing all we can to drill it deep into her psyche. You are always loved, you are always welcome, and nothing will ever change that. There is a lot that can happen in this world—sometimes by one’s own choices and sometimes by force—and nothing terrifies us more than losing our daughter. Indeed, if she ever turns her back on us we would be completely heartbroken, but we wouldn’t give up on her. Ever.
Imagine that love we have as parents is merely a small reflection of the vulnerable, all-invested love that God has for us all. God’s heart walks this earth by the billions. He carries a perfect love, even greater than that of a parent for a child, for each and every one of us. For me, that’s unfathomable. Jesus tries to give us a sense of it in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but as we know, Jesus used parables to give people a glimpse of understanding into something far greater than they could possibly comprehend. Thus, that parable shows us that the love of the forgiving father is just the beginning.
Now here’s the challenge. The all-invested, life-changing love that a parent has for a child is also just the beginning. We are called to be disciples on this earth, to serve others and to treat others as Jesus would. Does that not mean that the intense love between a parent and child should be the same love we offer every child of God?
Father of us all, teach us to love all of your children as we love our own, so that everyone of this earth may glimpse the unfathomable love you have for us. Amen.
This is part four of a seven-part series. Join us each Wednesday for Growing in Friendship with God This Lent
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Undie Sunday!
In remembrance of the "washing of the feet" on Holy Thursday, commit to providing socks and underwear for the homeless and the poor. These are clothing items that get worn out and need replacing. The Catholic Worker House in Des Moines at 1310 7th St. provides showers, clean socks and underwear for the homeless who come there for meals. St. Mary's Family Center and the Caring Hands Food Pantry right here in Altoona will accept these donations as well. We like to call Palm Sunday, Undie Sunday at my house, because this has become our tradition to provide clean underwear for those in need.
In remembrance of the "washing of the feet" on Holy Thursday, commit to providing socks and underwear for the homeless and the poor. These are clothing items that get worn out and need replacing. The Catholic Worker House in Des Moines at 1310 7th St. provides showers, clean socks and underwear for the homeless who come there for meals. St. Mary's Family Center and the Caring Hands Food Pantry right here in Altoona will accept these donations as well. We like to call Palm Sunday, Undie Sunday at my house, because this has become our tradition to provide clean underwear for those in need.
Do It!
Fasting . . What have you given up?
Fasting, no matter how hard or how long we do it, cannot earn us God's love. God's love is always there for us! But fasting can be a good way to pray with your whole body, by saying, "I need God most of all."
Did you know that you can fast from things other than food and drink? Here some possibilities to try for this week or for the remainder of Lent.
These kinds of fasts will give you a little extra time for helping out around the house, reading the Bible, or spending time with the people you love. However you fast in these remaining weeks of Lent, try to do it out of love for God, for other people, and a desire to grow closer to both!
Fasting, no matter how hard or how long we do it, cannot earn us God's love. God's love is always there for us! But fasting can be a good way to pray with your whole body, by saying, "I need God most of all."
Did you know that you can fast from things other than food and drink? Here some possibilities to try for this week or for the remainder of Lent.
- fast from TV or video games
- fast from staying in bed after the alarm goes off
- fast from gossiping or holding a grudge
- fast from the radio or music while driving
These kinds of fasts will give you a little extra time for helping out around the house, reading the Bible, or spending time with the people you love. However you fast in these remaining weeks of Lent, try to do it out of love for God, for other people, and a desire to grow closer to both!
