Our Great Journey

Welcome to our weekly blog, designed to share ideas for Living the Gospel at Home. This blog is meant to be interactive, so please share ideas, photos and resources that you have tried at home. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most meaningful.

This weekend, Jesus talks about The Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat in Matthew 13:24-43. 

This Gospel calls us to be vigilant gardeners, strong in faith and always ready to deal with the weeds. The “weeds” in our daily lives take away our focus, or are choices that may look good at first but in reality choices that choke the life out of our faith. God’s Word has to be planted deep in our hearts, in the good, rich soil of who God wants us to be. 

Things to talk about:

• What do you enjoy about going to Mass on Sunday?
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about wheat and weeds. What does the wheat represent? What do the weeds represent? 
• Why do you think Jesus doesn’t want to pull up the weeds until the harvest?

Things to do:

• Watch this video and learn how to draw wheat, click HERE.
• Pull weeds in your garden or landscaping. Make it a competitive family activity to see who can pull the most weeds and award a prize for the winner. Be sure to instruct children on the difference between weeds and plants/flowers!
• Clean out your garage, shed, or storage area, and consider giving things away to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store or Goodwill. Alternatively, sell old things and consider using your proceeds to purchase something for your new outdoor sacred space
• Count how many songs we sing at Mass today that contained the word “wheat”.

Fun Fact: Wheat is the third largest crop produced in the United States, following corn and beans. One bushel of wheat contains approximately one million individual kernels, and it weighs about 60 pounds!

St. Christopher – July 25

St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers, having a St. Christopher medal in your car is a great idea because statistically, traveling is one of the most dangerous things we do. Bless your family car with holy water and a simple blessing. Click HERE. Then go out for a quick drive and grab some ice cream or milkshakes to eat while you “travel.”

Saints Anne and Joachim, Mary’s parents Feast Day July 26

Joachim and Anne represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith, and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.

This is the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to make and keep our faith traditions alive for generations to come. There is also a message for the younger generations too; older people can have great perspective, lots of experience and great wisdom. Let’s pray for all our grandparents today. If you are lucky enough to have grandparents who are still here, call or text them and tell them you love and treasure them.

Start off the new Faith Formation season at the Parish Mission—RESTORED

Friday, August 11—Saturday, August 12. Adult/Teen & Middle School & Elementary sessions. Childcare available. Join us for the entire mission, Friday or Saturday. Take this opportunity to look at RESTORING ourselves, our relationships, our community. Come and be inspired by John Edwards, Just a Guy in the Pew.

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