Family Handouts in English and Spanish

Understanding Discipleship

The following excerpt is from CELEBRATING THE LECTIONARY's Family Handout packet.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 21, 1997

READINGS

Wisdom 2:12,17-20
Psalm 54
James 3:16-4:3
Mark 9:30-37

REFLECTIONS

Open many slick consumer magazines and "the best" is usually the biggest or the grandest or the most expensive model of whatever is being peddled — cars, watches, sporting gear, clothing or video equipment. All around us, we are bombarded with the message that "Bigger is better." Well, Christ counters with a different kind of message: It is the meek, the weak, those who are like children or servants, who truly display greatness. Why? Perhaps because being a disciple means being a follower, one of the group who follows the sage example of a wise leader. It means being accepted for who you are — not what you wear, who you know, or what you own.

There is no question that discipleship is counter to many of society's messages. Are the stock clerks treated with the same respect as the business manager? They should be. How about the lowly freshman and the experienced senior? What about the famous athlete and the ticket taker? Each individual is valued equally in God's eyes — in fact, those who serve gain great favor in God's eyes.

Being disciples means we cannot afford to be complacent or apathetic. Rather, we need to participate as members of God's family and pull together for the good of the entire community.

...the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18).

FAITH SHARING

Get one piece of black or dark blue construction paper for each member of the family. Tear out a silhouette figure for each family member. (It could be just the face or a full figure.) Talk about the traits which make each member of your family a faithful follower of Jesus. Display the silhouettes next to each other in a window or against a light surface.

Do something childlike this week — even if you have no young children. Have a tea party, a family slumber party, a pillow fight, make mud pies, play games. Enjoy the freedom of not worrying about what anyone else thinks. Play and have fun.

Join others in prayer. Consider participating in a prayer group or prayer service in your parish. Look for an ecumenical prayer service in your community. Make an effort to participate.

Bring cheer into a neighbor's life. Bake a cake, deliver a flower, make a card, do a chore. Sometimes the unexpected "niceties" are the most special of all.

What are your organizational skills like? If you are a student, do you use a student planner? Do you keep a family calendar? How do you communicate about your schedules? Talk about the importance of considering other people when planning events in your life. If you are already well organized, help someone who is not.

FAMILY DISCUSSION