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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Celebrating family life | Lenten Reflections | family prayer
When our children were toddlers, we would socialize with other young families and try to shape how the kids played together, sharing, cooperating, taking turns, and being polite. It was a developmental challenge. When the little ones aren’t ready to share, forcing the issue can be counter-productive. It takes creative coaching and then waiting for development to take its course.
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Earlier this winter, I went into a Dunkin’ Donuts a ways from here. It was a really cold day, and so I had my ski jacket zipped all the way up, which blocked my Roman collar. And as I approached the counter, I heard a young woman’s voice say, “Don’t worry, I forge my signature on those forms all the time; it’s no big deal, really; I do it all the time!” Suddenly, the young woman turned and noticed she had a customer: me!
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Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.
We are in a new phase of Lent. There is no longer a focus on penance but on promise. The Prophet Isaiah describes God's promise to Israel. During the Babylonian exile, Israel felt that God had forgotten them because of their grievous sin. They believed God had "kicked them to the curb" or "thrown them under the bus." God uses colorful figures of speech to reassure them of His love despite the discipline He had enforced.
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In today’s reading from Ezekiel, there’s an incredibly detailed and hope-filled description of the water flowing from the Temple and the abundant life that results. Those of us who have grown up in cities with running water can’t fathom what it’s like to collect rainwater in containers like Father Fred described at our Lenten evening last Saturday.
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Today, we turn to the story in John 4, where Jesus encounters a desperate nobleman. This man's world is crumbling–his son lies deathly ill at Capernaum while Jesus remains in Cana. The nobleman pleads, "Sir, come down before my son dies!" These words, "come down," become a powerful refrain in this story.
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Lent activities | Sunday Gospel Activities | family prayer
Saints have been painted in bright colors because they were great leaders: kings, queens, emperors, knights in shining armor, even generals of armies like Joan of Arc, or brightly robed bishops, popes, and abbots. When you look at the choirs of saints in heaven, you are dazzled by all the color, all the talent, and all the most incredible human and holy accomplishments. When it comes to Saint Joseph — what dazzling colors do we find for him? No red of martyrs, no gold of world leaders, no pulpit of great preachers, no scroll of great authors. No, just a small workshop, a little hut with a battered shingle over the door that says: "Joseph and Son, Carpenters."
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