Our Great Journey
This week our theme is “Transfigured” based on Mark 9:2-10/Marcos 9:2-10.
All pray the Sign of the Cross
O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become co-heirs with him. Amen.
Using the Bible, invite a family member to read the Gospel aloud.
Things to talk about:
In today’s gospel, we celebrate this feast today as a commemoration of the fact that Jesus literally revealed His glory to three of the Apostles. He took them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them. He became dazzling white and radiant with glory. This was an important image for them to have in their minds in preparation for the very real image of the suffering and death Jesus was about to undergo.
- Do you see the glory of God in your life?
- Oftentimes this is a real struggle. We can easily become aware of all the problems we face and can focus in on them. As a result, it is often easy for us to miss seeing the glory of God in our lives.
- So do you see God’s glory in your life?
- If you could put yourself in this story, what would you talk about with Jesus on the journey to the mountain top?
- Talk about a time when you felt God’s grace and presence in your life or a time when you know he answered a prayer?
Things to do:
- Go Fishing: Casting a line with the kids is a classic, relaxing way to spend a lazy summer day. Find a local lake or stream and go fishing as a family. It’s an opportunity to get away from hectic schedules to enjoy the fresh air, learn about the environment, and even develop patience. Best of all, fishing is quality time spent together talking, laughing, and sitting quietly side by side.
- Celebrate National Root Beer Float Day with this easy recipe! Talk about how these ingredients are transformed into something wonderful.
- Root Beer Float
- 3 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 can Root Beer
- Add 3 scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream to a tall glass.
- Pour Root Beer over ice cream and serve with a straw or a spoon.
- Overcoming Obstacles: Divide into pairs, have one person put a blindfold over his or her eyes. Have the non-blindfolded person lead the blinded person around the room, building, grounds, or whatever space you are using. The non-blindfolded person must clearly guide the blindfolded person to keep them safe. After about 5 minutes, switch and do the exercise again.
- Once time is up, come together as a family to share their experiences with each other. Some things to talk about are:
- What did it feel like to not be able to see?
- What went through your mid as you listened to your partner give your directions?
- What did it feel like to be the person guiding the blindfolded person?
- After listening to each others experience, make the connection that just as every detail was important while being guided, every detail we hear in prayer is also important.
- Once time is up, come together as a family to share their experiences with each other. Some things to talk about are:
Closing Prayer
Prayer of Appreciation
Begin with the sign of the cross. Then everyone takes a turn sharing one thing they really appreciate about each person in the family. End with the Our Father:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Catholic Insights
The disciples’ ascent up Mount Tabor leads us to reflect on the importance of disengaging from worldly matters…It is a matter of being attentive to the careful and prayerful listening of Christ, the beloved Son of the Father, seeking intimate moments of prayer that allow for the joyful welcoming of the Word of God.
In this spiritual ascent, the disengagement from worldly matters, we are called to rediscover the peaceful and regenerative silence of meditating on the Gospel, on the reading of the Bible, which leads to a destination rich in beauty, splendor and joy!
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