Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

The eyes of faith

Reading I: Exodus 16:2–4, 12–15 (manna in the desert)
Reading II: Ephesians 4:17, 20–24 (renewal in Christ)
Gospel: John 6:24–28 (discourse on the bread of life)

Key Passage: So they said to Jesus, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?” (John 6:30)

Adult: When has your faith helped you believe without “seeing signs” from God?
Child: Who helps you believe in things you cannot see?
(from PastoralPlanning.com)

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Gifts of hope
Reading I: 2 Kings 4:42–44 (Elisha: the multiplication of loaves)
Reading II: Ephesians 4:1–6 (unity in the Mystical Body)
Gospel: John 6:1–15 (multiplication of the loaves)

Key Passage: When [the people] were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. (John 6:12–13)

Adult: When has the generous gift of another offered you hope?
Child: What loving gift could you give to another person this week?
(from PastoralPlanning.com)

Moses as Mediator

Are you thinking what does Moses have to do with prayer since that seems to be the theme this summer? Well the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) tells us that the prayer of Moses has become known as “the most striking example of intercessory prayer.” (CCC 2574) The definition for intercession on thefreedictionary.com says:

“1. Entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another. 2. Mediation in a dispute.”

Well this definitely describes what Moses did between Yahweh and His people during the Exodus don’t you think?

Moses doesn’t go into this prayer relationship with God easily if you remember. He made excuses, questioned “why me?” and flat out refused. God kept nudging him, revealed the name Yaweh to Moses and led him to the realization that with God’s help Moses would be able to reveal the one true God to the people. The CCC tells us that “Moses converses with God often and at length, climbing the mountain to hear and entreat Him and coming down to the people to repeat the words of God for their Guidance.” (CCC 2576) If Moses can do this so can we…he tried to get out of this intercessor role by saying he wasn’t fluent with words, God had a comeback in the form of Moses’ brother Aaron, telling Moses that Aaron would be able to speak for him if necessary. God doesn’t let us get out of prayer that easily, nor does He want us to keep that prayer to ourselves. We are to carry His word to those we meet each and every day. We even should bring the requests of those we meet to God being the intercessor just as Moses was between God and the people.

The love God has for us is steadfast and unwavering. Can we say that about our love for God? When our prayers aren’t answered right away or how we think they should be answered we sometimes give up on God and try to go it on our own. That sure doesn’t work well for me anyway. In Moses’ time when the people tried to go their own way, by beginning to worship idols like the Egyptians that had enslave them they found out the one true God could get very angry. Again Moses interceded and came back to the people with the 10 Commandments.

God continues to offer us the chance to recognize our need for Him in our lives and that prayer is the way to communicate with Him. Sometimes the prayer is hard to communicate, that is when we need to rely on others to intercede for us. The power of prayer is wonderful we only need to use it.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church: October 2010, USCCB, Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Come away and rest

Reading I: Jeremiah 23:1–6 (messianic reign)
Reading II: Ephesians 2:13–18 (all united in Christ)
Gospel: Mark 6:30–34 (return of the disciples)

Key Passage: The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6:30–31a)

Adult: What do you do to rest so that you can return to work refreshed?
Child: When will you take time to stop and pray this week?
(from PastoralPlanning.com)

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Sharing good news

Reading I: Amos 7:12–15 (Amos called by God to prophesy)
Reading II: Ephesians 1:3–14 (blessing for Jew and Gentile)
Gospel: Mark 6:7–13 (the mission of the Twelve)

Key Passage: He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. (Mark 6:7)

Adult: What good news of Jesus can you share with others this week?
Child: What good news of Jesus can you share with others this week?
(from PastoralPlanning.com)

Papal Intentions for July

The Vatican has announced the prayer intentions of Pope Francis for July 2015.

The Pope’s universal intention is: “That political responsibility may be lived at all levels as a high form of charity.”

His intention for evangelization is: “That, amid social inequalities, Latin American Christians may bear witness to love for the poor and contribute to a more fraternal society.”

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Self-acceptance

Reading I: Ezekiel 2:2–5 (the Lord speaks to Ezekiel)
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (Paul’s weakness)
Gospel: Mark 6:1–6 (Jesus at Nazareth)

Key Passage: [Paul said,] Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8)

Adult: What unavoidable weakness in yourself do you struggle to accept?
Child: What have you wished would be different or better about you?
(from PastorlPlanning.com)