Religious Education
Important Feast Days
On Sunday 8th September was the nativity (birthday) of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Ways to give thanks for our Blessed Mother who speaks on our behalf to Our Lord when we pray to her and protects us by her intercession include:
- Going to Mass
- Saying the Rosary
- Making a pilgrimage to a statue of Mary with prayer
- Presenting flowers to an image or statue of Mary with prayer
- Lighting a candle with prayer
Thursday 12th Sept: Feast of Most Holy Name of Mary
Friday 13th Sept: Feast of St John Chrysotom
Saturday 14th Sept: Feast of Exaltation of the Cross
Monday 16th Sept: Feast of Sts Cornelius and Cyprian
Tuesday 17th Sept: Feast of Sts Robert Bellarmine and St Hildegard of Bingen
Gospel
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.
Unpacking the Scriptures
In this Sunday's Gospel of Mark, Jesus asks his twelve closest disciples what everyone has been saying about him and then turns the question to them, to ask what they believe. This is an important moment for Peter as he speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ.
The word Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah, meaning “the anointed one.” During Jesus' time, the expectation of the Messiah was a political leader who would free the Jewish people from Roman occupation. Jesus however confides in them that he will be rejected, must suffer and die to rise after three days. Peter rejects this completely as this was not the Messiah they expect (or want) and Jesus rebukes him immediately.
Jesus then teaches them about the path of discipleship: to be Christ’s disciple is to follow in the way of the cross. The salvation he offered to the disciples is the same salvation he offers to us which requires radical sacrifice and commitment.
Family Connection
Like Peter, think about a time when you or your children were told something that you didn’t want to hear. For example, what do your children do when they are watching TV and a parent calls them to clean their bedroom or do homework? Perhaps they are playing outside with their friends, and you call them inside for dinner? How do they react?
Similar to Peter, have expectations of God and our own ideas about what we think God ought to be doing in our world (or for ourselves). This however limits our image of God by thinking only in human ways. God's plan is always more that we can ever imagine. Jesus knew that his suffering, death, and resurrection were God’s plan for our salvation. He taught us that God’s plan for us is far greater than we can know or expect. We can trust in God’s plan for us.
Pray
Gather together, light a candle and acknowledge that you are in the presence of God in a moment of silence. Read the Gospel Mark 8:27-35. Discuss why you think Peter was so upset by what Jesus was saying. Do we sometimes forget to let God be God for us? Sometimes we can get upset because God doesn't act in our world in the ways that we expect but we don't see the bigger picture like he does. Pray together that as a family you will remember that God is always working for the world's salvation in ways that are beyond our imagination. Recall the blessings you notice in your life and say a prayer of thanksgiving:
Dear Jesus
Thank you Lord for all that grows,
Thank you for the sky's rainbows,
Thank you for the stars that shine,
Thank you for these friends of mine,
Thank you for the moon and sun,
Thank you God for all you've done!
Amen.
God bless,
India Mitchell-Fletcher
Religious Education Leader