Sunday Connection - Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Taken and adapted from LoyolaPress and Break Open the Word)

Gospel Reading - Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s reading is the turning point in Mark’s Gospel. In the presentation of the life and ministry of Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark, the deeds of Jesus have shown Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet many, including Jesus’ disciples, have not yet realised his identity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples for a field report by asking what others say about him. He then turns the question directly to the disciples and asks what they believe. Peter speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ.

Now that the disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely. The image of Christ that Jesus is giving is not the image of the Messiah that Peter was expecting. Jesus then teaches the crowd and the disciples about the path of discipleship: To be Chris’s disciple is to follow in the way of the cross.

Family Connection 

Peter had expectations about what it meant to call Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but his life and death would show a different understanding of what it means to be the Messiah. We, too, have expectations of God and our own ideas about what we think God ought to be doing in our world. Like Peter, however, we may risk limiting our image of God by thinking only in human ways. God's plan is always more than we can ever imagine.

As a family, talk about what we expect God to be doing in our world and in our family life. Then read today's Gospel, Mark 8:31-35. Why do you think Peter was so upset by what Jesus was saying? Notice how Jesus reprimands Peter. Do we sometimes forget to let God be God for us? That is, do we sometimes get discouraged because God doesn't act in our world in the ways that we expect? Pray together that we will remember that God is always working for the world's salvation in ways that are beyond our imagination. Conclude by praying together today's psalm, Psalm 116.

Praying at Home 

Our students often show a desire and interest in praying at home. One way to regularly bring prayer into your home is by praying before meals. It reminds us that God is with us, and we thank him. Here are some ideas for prayer before meals for you to try at home. 

1. Have family members take turns leading the prayer each day. You might start with a petition, praise to God—whatever the leader chooses.
2. Ask each member to say one thing he or she is grateful for that day.
3. Expand on the previous exercise by having each person at the table quickly answer these questions: What are you grateful for? What do you want to ask God for? What are you sorry for today? Whom did you help?
4. Or try one of the traditional prayers.

First Holy Communion

This weekend we celebrate our Year 4 students who are receiving their First Holy Communion. The students began preparation for the Sacrament with a faith formation evening back in Week 4. They have been exploring and learning about the Eucharist through scripture, the parts of the mass and the ritual and tradition of our faith. 

Jesus tells us that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there with them. He also asked us to share together as a community through a fellowship meal regularly and to do so in memory of him. Our faith tradition teaches that every time we receive Communion, we are receiving Jesus Himself. Through Communion, God’s life and Grace we received at Baptism, along with our Charisms from the Holy Spirit, are nourished and strengthened. We stay in relationship with and stay connected to God every time we receive Him during Mass.

We take time to think of our First Communicants during this special and blessed occasion. May their spiritual life be nourished and strengthened through prayer, encounter, discipleship, mission and through receiving the Eucharist.

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