It's Wednesday and it's time to open the scriptures (and our minds and hearts) to the Word we will hear proclaimed, sung and preached this weekend. For the texts and background material on them, visit the St. Louis University site which is so helpful in this regard. Bringing young ones to Mass with you this weekend? Here's some help from the Sadlier site for the kids.The first lesson this Sunday (Leviticus) gives us a graphic view of those considered unclean by virtue of disease. In the gospel (Mark) Jesus heals a leper who disregards the Lord's instruction to keep the healing a secret. A very brief reading from Paul (1 Corinthians) considers how early Christians were to treat food that may have been sacrificed to pagan idols before being served at the table. Interesting texts! Spend some time with them to prepare for Sunday worship.
Image by Maximino Cerezo
-ConcordPastor
I endorse both the St. Louis Center for Liturgy website and the Sadlier We Believe site. I have been using both for years and I believe our family has benefitted greatly.
ReplyDeleteWho are the social outcasts of today? They are all around us in our lives. Also, today they might include people like Cardinal Law or even Bishop Williamson. No doubt, in these cases, it is a huge challenge to overcome our anger and hurt and be welcoming and compassionate as Christ would be. Like the leper in the gospel we should ask to be personally healed..."If you wish, you can make me clean." Then...how could we possibly keep quiet?
ReplyDeleteThe reading about the leper was a part of the 7th grade faith formation curriculum this week. The goal was to identify all the emotions that Jesus felt so the kids could "RELATE" to the emotions they feel....thus building a RELATionship with him. So important on their pre-teen journey from their childlike blind acceptance of their parents' faith to the mature choice they will make at confirmation. Just FYI none of them knew what a leper was!
ReplyDeleteOur daughter saw first hand as a volunteer for Rostro de Cristo in Ecuador. Part of her work there was at the Damien House where people with Hanson's Disease (leprosy) live (because they are outcasts) and are cared for.
ReplyDeleteAs a Peace Corps Volunteer, I was a Community Health Educator and I found myself doing mostly AIDS education. True, it is not leprosy, but what I saw was the same- the people with AIDS, or even just thought to have AIDS, were outcast and had to live by themselves often in areas that were physically hard to get to because of the terrain of the island. Part of my job was to educate the people with a goal to give the afflicted people the care they needed and not be afraid of them... I did actually see a receptiveness to the information I was giving and although I knew it would take time, I saw hope there.
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