CVM helpdesk: June 2017

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

July 30, 2017

Gospel: Mt 13:44-52

Jesus said to his disciples: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,

which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous (*) and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. "Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old."

http://www.usccb.org

The difficult words

(*)The righteous are the people who do what is right and good.

This week’s spotlight

Solomon

In today's first reading, Solomon, the son of Bathsheba and King David, prays in a dream. Solomon makes this prayer for wisdom because he had become king at a very young age. God granted his request, and he became famous for his wisdom and justice as Israel's ruler. He was so wise that people would travel from all over the world to ask his advice. He is also known for building the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Preface

We begin the Eucharistic Prayer with a prayer to God the Father called the ’‘Preface.” The Preface is an introduction, and it leads us into the most solemn moments of the Mass. This prayer; spoken or sung by the Priest alone, tells God how right it is that we should thank and praise him. It recalls some of the wonders God has done for us in Christ. It ends with the congregation’s joyful singing of the "Holy, Holy, Holy" in union with all the angels and saints.

Reflection

A precious gift!

Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is a treasure. A treasure can be other things besides money. It’s something extremely precious. Jesus is saying that faith is precious! The merchant who finds the valuable pearl is happy to sell all he owns in order to have it. When you begin to discover the gift of faith, your life begins to change. You begin to understand that faith, like all that is precious, requires certain efforts.You will also find, though, that making these extra efforts makes you feel more and more joy! Take a look at your life. Think about what is most important to you. Think about your greatest treasure. Is God on the top of your list? Even if not, you are a treasure to God. God isn’t asking you to give up those you love, but to understand that love itself is the treasure, for God is love. The more you search for God, the more you will find that his is a kingdom of love! Keep searching for the treasure! When you find God, you find all!

Discussion questions

1.Why does Jesus tell three stories?

2.What do the first two stories teach about?

3.What does the story of the fish teach about the end of time?

Praying after Communion

After receiving Holy Communion, you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you have not yet received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to receive Jesus.

Father, through Jesus, in communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Help me to recognize that your kingdom is the greatest treasure of my heart. Through this Holy Communion, strengthen me to share your kingdom with others.

This week…

Look for something precious

While you're outside playing this week, find something precious from nature (such as a pretty stone, a special leaf, or a flower) to decorate your prayer corner and to remind you that your faith is a treasure. It can also remind you that you are precious to God. Each time you see that precious item, say a quick prayer of thanks and praise to God.

Share the treasure!

Choose something precious to you (one of the precious objects you collected from nature or perhaps your favorite toy), and give it away. You can give it to someone who is poor, to someone who is lonely, or to someone who has done something special for you. Let this remind you that faith and love are treasures to be shared with others, not just to be kept for ourselves.

Spiral Puzzle

Source: usccb.org - Magnifikid - sermons4kids.com – rclblectionary.com –usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

July 23, 2017

Gospel: Mt 13:24-30

Jesus proposed another parable (1) to the crowds, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed (2) good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?

Where have the weeds come from?' He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

http://www.usccb.org

The difficult words

(1)A parable is a story or comparison used to teach others.

(2)To sow means to plant seeds.

This week’s spotlight

Repentance

In today's first reading, there is a sentence that says God gives his children ‘‘hope that you would permit repentance" (Wisdom 12:19). God is gentle and forgiving, always ready to give another chance to those who have repentance. Repentance is the desire to change and do better. God does not want to destroy anyone. Jesus died on the cross even for people we consider "bad." God waits patiently for us to change our actions and attitudes.

The kingdom of heaven

In the Gospel, Jesus often speaks about the Kingdom of God. To explain what it is, he uses parables. He says, for example, that the Kingdom of God is like a feast to which we are invited, or a pearl of great value. This Sunday, Jesus' parable is about a field. In all of these parables, we understand that the kingdom is something that is happening, growing, being discovered now, but that is not yet finished. To put it another way, the Kingdom of God is both "already" here and "not yet” here.

Reflection

To each his own work!

Jesus’ story this week is about a field where both weeds and good wheat are growing. If we were the farmers, we might want to pull out those weeds right away. We would want to get rid of whatever could harm our crop! But Jesus explains that if you pull out the weeds, you also risk pulling out the good wheat. Plus, when wheat is first sprouting, it’s hard to tell the difference between weeds and wheat. Jesus uses this parable to remind us that God judges things differently than we do. He is very patient. God wills all people to be saved and to come to the truth! Jesus invites us to be more patient with each other and to stop judging each other. Even sinners can change and repent! It’s not our job to decide who is good and bad; who deserves love and who doesn’t. Our job is to do what is right, to love as God loves. It's Jesus’ job to be Master of the harvest. So, to each his own work!

Discussion questions

1.What does Jesus teach with this story about weeds and wheat?

2.How does Jesus want us to grow?

3.Why does God allow the weeds to grow?

Praying after Communion

Father, through Jesus, in communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Through this Communion with the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus, make your kingdom grow within me. Help me always to admit my faults, and to be patient with the faults of others.

This week…

Avoid judging others

Sometimes, when you find that a person is behaving badly, it is tempting to want to tell them that they are stupid or worthless. This week, try to hold your tongue and look at others with generosity and understanding. After all, how do you want others to treat you and think of you when you are the one misbehaving?

Saying good things

Each day of this week, choose a member of your family or a friend and think about three of their best, qualities. When we look for and see what is really good about people, we see them as God does. Loving others as God loves them helps make the Kingdom of God more visible in our world. It shows that we are good wheat, not weeds.

Decoder Puzzle

Source: usccb.org - Magnifikid - sermons4kids.com – rclblectionary.com –usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm