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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Gospel Reflection | Learn more about our faith | Video homily
Two statements are given to us today — one from Paul, one from Jesus — and together they offer a deep and abundant assurance of God’s love for us. Paul tells the Ephesians, and tells us, that we are chosen. God has set His heart upon us. We belong to Him. This is not something we earn; it is something God freely gives. We are His own. In the Gospel, Jesus strengthens that assurance even more. He says, “Do not be afraid.” He reminds us that the Father has counted the hairs on our heads. He sees the smallest sparrow fall and yet tells us that we are worth more than many sparrows. In other words, nothing about our lives escapes His loving attention.
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Catholic Faith | Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | saints
Have you ever noticed how much we like to build memorials and put up signs honoring people? We put up monuments, dedicate buildings, and preserve the memories of those who have gone before us. And, there’s something good about honoring those who made a difference in our lives and those who came before us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges the scribes and scholars of the law, when He says, “You build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed.”
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Gospel Reflection | Learn more about our faith | prayer
Roy Bennette in his book “The Light in the Heart” states: “Don’t let things that matter least, get in the way of things that matter most.” What he is pointing out here is that it is important to consciously prioritize what truly matters. We should not allow ourselves to be consumed by less important tasks or distractions that hinder the pursuit of one’s most significant goals or aspirations. That is also the contention of Jesus in today’s Gospel when he criticizes the Pharisees for getting wrapped up into religious rituals while ignoring mercy and fairness to others.
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The Dating Project | catholic family | young adult ministry
Nearly half of America is single today — and many would rather not be. But, as a culture, we’ve lost the plot of how dating works. Especially for young Catholics seeking to build a lasting marriage and family, it’s hard to even know how to begin ... but there’s a film that offers answers to just that.
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Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
Most of us want to make a good impression. Before we leave the house, we might look in the mirror, comb our hair, or make sure we look presentable. We pay attention to what people see on the outside. But how often do we stop and take a good look at what’s going on inside us? That’s what Jesus is getting at in today’s Gospel. A Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner and is surprised that Jesus doesn’t wash before the meal. Jesus uses this opportunity to make an important point: “Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” In other words, Jesus is asking, “You’re paying a lot of attention to the outside, but what about the inside?” And that’s a question worth asking ourselves.
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Catholic Family Fun | Grandparenting | childhood memories
Discover simple ways for grandparents to create lasting memories with their grandchildren, ensuring love and connection across generations. A few years ago, I saw a special Mother’s Day meme. It basically said that moms are a lot like Moses in that we prepare our people to enter a place where we cannot go and will not be. That’s true to some extent for mothers and children, but it is most certainly true for grandmothers (and grandfathers) and their grandchildren. This became even clearer to me when my latest grandson arrived this year. I certainly intend to love this little one every chance I get. However, if I were to pass away sometime in the next ten years, he would have only a very faint memory of me, if at all. The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children. (Proverbs 13:22a)
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