Hello Faith Formation Families!
Last week, we finished up our month on the Corporal Work of Mercy "Visit the Prisoner" by learning about some other ways in which people can feel imprisoned, like addiction and sin, a bit about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and a little Corporal Works of Mercy puzzle game.
This week, the first week of February, we begin a new Corporal Work of Mercy, "Care for the Sick," with a great Bible story, the story of the Good Samaritan!
All of the materials you'll need for this month's lessons will be printable or accessible online, so there's no need to pick up a packet in the Parish Center.
It's almost time to register for First Eucharist Preparation! If you have a second grader, or if you have a child seven years old or older who hasn't yet celebrated this sacrament, you won't want to miss next week's Flocknote! It will include information about what this year's program will look like and how to register.
"Care for the Sick "
Family Lesson #20
Let's begin our lesson as we begin all things, with the Sign of the Cross.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
Then use your own hand to help you pray the Hands of Prayer, a favorite prayer of Pope Francis.
Pinky finger:
Pray for those who are weak: the sick, dying, homeless, and uneducated.
Ring finger:
Pray for those you love the most: your friends and family
Middle finger:
Pray for those who stand tall: people in positions of leadership, like the President, government leaders, principals, and employers
Pointer finger:
Pray for those who point the way: people who are an example of Christian life, like the Pope, Bishops, Priests, teachers, and mentors
Thumb:
Pray for the intentions closest to your heart: Your own concerns, plans, hopes, and fears
Here's a printable version of this prayer along with the opening prayers from October-January. Consider putting them all together in a prayer book!
Activity: Scripture Discussion
Today's activity is to dig a little deeper into the scripture passage from the introduction video. Pull out your family Bible and look it up: Luke 10:29-37. Here's how:
First, find where the Gospel of Luke begins in your Bible. It's the third book of the New Testament, the part of the Bible that tells about Jesus's life and the early church.
Then, find Chapter 10. In some Bibles, the chapter numbers are headings in each section. In a Bible like the one in my example, you'll find a big number 10 at the beginning of the chapter.
Next, find verse 29. The verse numbers are the little numbers at the beginning of each phrase or sentence. This is where you'll begin to read. In my example Bible, verse 29 is on the page after the beginning of the chapter.
Interesting Bible fact: In some Bibles, like the one in my example, the words of Jesus are written in red!
Then, find verse 37. This is the last verse you'll read in this passage.
Read Luke 10: 29-37 together and then discuss it with your family.
What does this Bible passage teach us about God?
What does it teach us about ourselves, human beings?
What does it teach us about how God wants us to live?
Have you ever heard someone call another person a "Good Samaritan?" It's a nice compliment that means that person is doing a good job of helping others, like the Samaritan man did in this Bible story. In fact, people even choose the name "Good Samaritan" for organizations and businesses that help people. My brother and I were born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, and I've heard of homeless shelters, wheelchair transportation companies, social work offices, and churches all named for the Good Samaritan.
Now, today, calling someone a “Good Samaritan” is a nice compliment, but when Jesus told this story, his listeners didn't think very highly of people from Samaria. In fact, often, Jewish people traveling between Galilee in the north and Judea in the south would actually cross the Jordan River and travel along its eastern bank to avoid going through Samaria!
Map courtesy of The Bible Journey via FreeBibleimages.org
So did you notice the two people in the story who did not help the poor traveler? One was a priest, and the other was a Levite, or temple helper. Now, out of all the people you would expect to help someone in need, you would expect a priest or a temple helper to do the right thing, wouldn't you? But instead, who does help the man? A Samaritan! Jesus's listeners would have been shocked! A Samaritan is the good guy in this story? For real? Jesus is telling them, and us too, that everyone is our neighbor. It doesn't matter where they come from, or if you come from the same place they do, or if anything about the two of you matches, everyone is our neighbor, and everyone deserves our help!
Image courtesy of Good News Productions Int. via FreeBibleImages.org
Special Bible Verse
As a family, read this Bible verse a few times slowly. Take a quiet moment to think about what Jesus is telling us.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. "
If you wish, you could also write out this Bible verse in fancy letters, or even try to memorize all or part of it!
God Sightings
Watching the snow fall today, I was reminded of a little video I took a few weeks ago in my mom & dad's backyard. What a quiet, peaceful day this was!
Remember to share your own God Sightings in the "Share your faith work" section below!
Share Your "Faith Work"
Faith Formation and Parish News
Outreach Pasta Dinner & Can Collection
Guess what! High School Outreach is serving up a takeaway pasta dinner on February 13! I know what I'm having for dinner that night!
This weekend, February 6 & 7, leave your pop cans and bottles behind your car when you go to Mass, and the Outreach Team will pick them up!
Registration
for 2021-2022
In the past, Faith Formation has held a Registration Weekend each March. This year, with Covid still a factor, we're not going to have our registration quite so early. We'll update you with more information soon, but for now, don't worry about March Registration.
