LEAP! Life Everlasting - Awakening Possibilities
Popcorn Sunday
Family Time Together
Lent is a wonderful time of the year when we empty our hearts of all things that keep us from loving God, others and ourselves. It is a time to get our hearts ready to see Jesus’ love for us, to fill our hearts with His love, and to show Him we love Him with our love for others.
The Popcorn Seed:
is
small, hard, uninviting, tasteless, useless, hurtful, alone
A heart without love is just like a popcorn seed. It is not compassionate, understanding, kind, welcoming, helpful, trusting, and does not put others first. It is selfish and very unhappy.
Pop the bag of popcorn
By adding heat to the popcorn, the seed changes from something we don’t like or want to something we can’t wait to taste and see.
The popcorn seed
is now
large, soft, delicious, useful, tender, welcoming
Jesus loves us so very much. The warmth of His love changes our hearts to become big, gentle and kind. We feel so great that we can’t help but to spread that happiness to others. This is how Jesus wants us to be and what He wants us to do.
Share the popcorn together
How can your family spend this special time of Lent changing your hearts? What can you do to share your love with others? How can you return Jesus’ love for you?
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much. Thank you for the gifts of a beautiful world filled with many, many good things. Thank you for all the graces and blessings our family has received. Most of all, thank you helping our hearts to grow bigger and better.
Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the Lord is good…”
| Lent for the Family
It is not so much what we give up for Lent
as it is what we do for one another. |
Jesus was asked, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
To find Jesus’ answer read:
Mark 12:29-31
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #2055
Question: What do these two commandments mean to you in your daily life?
Just before Jesus left his disciples He gave a new commandment. To find out what it was, read John 13:34 and CCC #2196.
Question: Just how much do you think Jesus want us to love one another?
Matthew 25:40 has something very important to tell us. What is it?
Question: Proverbs 19:17 says, “When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and he will pay you back.” What are Matthew and Proverbs telling us about God and our good deeds?
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
St. Mary Star of the Sea Youth Ministry
Pay it Forward
“’Pay It Forward’ is a book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde, but it's also an idea. It's an action plan within a work of fiction. “
“Reuben St. Clair, the teacher in the book ‘Pay It Forward,’ starts a movement with this voluntary, extra-credit assignment: THINK OF AN IDEA FOR WORLD CHANGE, AND PUT IT INTO ACTION. Trevor, a 12-year-old, thinks of quite an idea. He describes it to his mother and teacher this way: ‘You see, I do something real good for three people. And then when they ask how they can pay it back, I say they have to Pay It Forward to three more people each. So nine people get helped. Then those people have to do twenty-seven. Then it sort of spreads out, see. To eighty-one. Then two hundred forty-three. Then seven hundred twenty-nine. Then two thousand, one hundred eighty-seven. See how big it gets?’"
What a fantastic idea to do something kind and not ask anything in return but to pass the kindness on.
Read Isaiah 58: 7-11. What does God want us to be doing?
What will God do for us?
Read Catechism of the Catholic Church # 2447. It comes from the chapter about Love for the Poor. “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor…” CCC #2447 teaches us the corporal works of mercy and how pleasing they are to God.
What are some important things that we need to be doing for others not as fortunate as we are?
Now, read Matthew 25: 35-40. Take to heart and memorize verse 40. What does that mean to your relationship with your neighbor and therefore to God?
Read Mark 14: 3-9. Her name was Mary. Her good work was towards Jesus himself.
What did Jesus think of what Mary had done for him?
What do you think Jesus thinks of your good works? Are your good works towards Jesus, too?
Now you understand the following things: 1. what “paying it forward” means, 2. what the corporal works of mercy are, and 3. what things are pleasing to God.
Read Luke 7: 1-10 and answer this question: Who in this reading was “paying it forward?” Tell what you think happened 1st, 2nd, and so on.
Pay It Forward
You have 3 rubber bands. On each rubber band, with a ballpoint pen, write “Pay it Forward.” Wear all three on your wrists. Now, do three good deeds for three different people. Give a rubber band to the person for whom you are doing a special good deed. Tell them not to pay you back, but to “Pay it Forward.” Have them to get two more rubber bands and write “Pay it Forward” on the rubber bands. They, too, will give a rubber band away to three different people by doing a special good deed for them. They again will instruct those three people to do the same thing. You will be able to watch as your simple, special good deeds grow just like Trevor’s did. Your action can change the world even if it’s just one person’s world.
Morning Offering
My God, I offer you this day,
All I shall think, or do, or say,
Uniting it with what was done
On Earth by Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen
The Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit the imprisoned
Bury the dead
Next weekend February 23/24 please share your ideas, actions, and results on our “Pay It Forward Grafittti Wall! Those who participate will receive a white and blue wristband which will be a constant reminder of how blessed you are when you love and serve the Lord.
St. Mary Star of the Sea Youth Ministry
 | Families in Action:
Charity in Motion |
“I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13:34 What a “WOW” moment! Just how much does God love us? He loves us so much that he gave us his only son, Jesus Christ. Jesus became flesh to be our model of holiness: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 On Mt. Tabor at the Transfiguration God commands: “Listen to him!”Mark 9:7 Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the example of how to follow the new law: “Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
Just how much do you have to love others?
Answer this question: "I will love (a person's name) as much as Jesus loves me!"
It isn’t always easy, but it’s the right thing to do and Jesus helps us along the whole way.
Read 1 John 4:7-21. This passage tells us that God is love. His love not invisible because we see it in the free gift of Jesus. Our love for one another must be the same, merciful and real. What commandment does God give us in verse 21?
Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)# 1813. What are the 3 Theological Virtues? Faith, hope and charity have God (theos) as the center. CCC #1822 will tell which is the most important virtue.
Read 1Cor. 13:13. St. Paul will tell you the same thing.
The Latin word “caritas” means charity. Pope Benedict XVI entitled his first encyclical Deus Caritas Est or God is Love. The Greek word agape can mean either love or charity. Love and charity are the same thing. Can you explain why this is true? If you have love, you want to give of yourself to others as they need it. When you are giving of yourself, you are showing that person great love.
Read Colossians 3:12-14. It tells us two things: how to behave and to be forgiving. What bonds these two things perfectly is love.
CCC #1844 says it so well: “By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Charity, the form of all virtues, “binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Here’s the first part of your Lenten Family Project. Nooma is a non-profit group which, through a series of short films, give us spiritual direction that is real for us now in our time. The movie Rich will allow us to see how much God loves us and has blessed us. Why are we so blessed? Rob Bell challenges us with this observation: “Maybe God has blessed us with everything so we can bless and give to others.” Charity and love are inseparable again. Nooma has put Rich on Facebook for our parish for one week. This will give everyone a chance to view it together as a family. Here’s the address: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NOOMA/21600640369. If you don’t have an account, it will take just a minute to get one. Once you are on, you will see Rich in the right margin. Sit back and enjoy! You will be grateful to be an American and anxious to share your many blessings. Guaranteed!
We want to thank Nooma for being so kind as to make Rich available to everyone. Rob Bell taught us from
1 Timothy 6:17-19. Read it together and decide what you can do to be “rich in good works.” Then decide what “mitzvoth” (Jewish word for “good deed”) you are going to do this week for someone who needs you.
So, here is the second part of your Lenten Family Project. On the website you will find a template for a *bumper sticker with a waving flag background in the manner of God Bless America. Think about this week’s Family Lenten Project, all things you have heard and felt, and the plans you’ve made to share your blessings. Now, make your own personal bumper sticker with whatever words, actions, or bible verse that is important for you to share with the people around you. Display it in your car window, your locker at school, on the refrigerator, or wherever you are being a disciple of Jesus. The words that changed your heart could very well be the words that will change someone else’s heart, too. Click here for a template that will work in Microsoft Word 2000 or newer.
*There are two bumper stickers on the page. We want you to make a copy of your bumper sticker to bring to church next weekend. We will display all the bumper stickers in the Gathering Space. It will be fun to see just how many different ways we were touched by Nooma’s Rich and how we became disciples of Jesus.
THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
ACT OF CHARITY PRAYER
O MY GOD, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Next week meet us in the Gathering Space to see the beautiful poster “In His Image.” You will experience the wonder of being made in the image and likeness of God.
LEAP! & DIVE! Youth Ministries
IN HIS IMAGE
As you gaze into heaven on a clear and starry night, you probably feel little and insignificant. You may even ask the questions, "Who am I" and "why am I here?" God doesn't waste any time and answers you right at the very beginning of the Bible.
Read Genesis 1:1-31. God thought His creation was very good!
Did you notice something very amazing about God's creations? Yes, each thing has the ability to reproduce itself. God intends His creation to always be very good and to always there for each one's benefit until the end of time.
Did you notice that you are different than the rest of creation? Yes, He made you in His image.
How are you different than the rest of creation? You have a mind that can learn, analyze, understand, and choose. Yes, you can choose right and wrong.
God has given you power over all creation. What does He expect you to do with that power? God expects you to take very good care of the land, water, air, plants, animals, and each other.
How did God make man? Read Genesis 2: 4-7.
Did God make some people in a different way than other people? No, we were all made in the same way and in the image and likeness of Him.
Do you know why God made you? Read The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #356 and #358. We were made to know God, love Him, to serve Him, and to share in God's own life.
Genesis tells us 2 things about ourselves:
WE ARE UNIQUE: Only men and women are created in God's image. Human beings are the only ones with this special honor and privilege. Only mankind had God breathe life into them. So, let's see if we can get a tiny feeling of just how much God loves us: There is a special bond between a parent and a child. The child is a product of the parents' love and the child is created in the parents' image. Picture this: someone walks up and speaks harshly to the child. Describe the reactions of the parents and of the child. God loves us infinitely more!
The Bible is very specific in many places such as Matthew and Genesis about how mad God is whenever any of his children are hurt. How are some of the ways that God's children get hurt? What are some of the ways you help to stop people from getting hurt or from doing bad things? Review the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and CCC pg. 551.
WE WERE CREATED TO REFLECT GOD'S GREATNESS: We were not made in the image of a movie star or a super-star athlete or a powerful executive. We are made with the characteristics that are found in God.
We have a soul and a spirit. It is inside of us as our personality and God the Spirit.
We have intellect. With our conscience we make reasoned choices.
We are moral. We are truthful with intregrity. ("righteousness and true holiness" Eph. 4:24)
Everything sounds so perfect! What has gotten in the way of our happiness? Yes, our sins have gotten in the way. But, God's image in us is still there. You can see God in good people and in bad people; in people of different races, colors, countries and religions.
God's complete love for us can be seen in Jesus. Jesus came to earth to give forgiveness and life to those who place their trust in Him. He could not provide forgiveness and life without coming to earth, because there had to be a payment for the sin of the human race.
Read CCC #444. You will see the two solemn moments where God speaks of Jesus as His Son of whom He is well pleased. (Matt 3:17 and 17:5)
Read John 6:32-35, 47-51. What message does Jesus have for us?
Read Colossians 1:15-20. It will describe Jesus as the image of the invisible God. Now we know that we are made in the image of Jesus!
1 Corinthians 15:49 says that we bear the image of the heavenly one!
Here's the challenge: See yourself and your neighbors, those you know and those you don't know, as the "image and likeness of God."
Take a close look at the image of Jesus on your prayer card. In the artist's words: "It really doesn't matter which persons are depicted. We are 'all one in Christ' as St. Paul told us. Hurting one, we hurt all; helping one, we help all. That is the idea behind "In His Image'."
Who is in the "In His Image" picture?
Do you see the faces of all people in this world?
What conclusions can you draw from this picture?
We are all make in the image and likeness of God.
We must be tolerant of differences to live peacefully in this world.
We must all work together and share our blessings with those who need them.
Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Regardless of the mirror you use to judge yourself, Jesus sees the real you. He sees a person created in His image, someone unique, someone He accepts just the way you are. When He looks at you, He sees an important part of His larger plan, Christ already sees the people you will touch years from how. Most importantly, Christ sees someone He loves.
Be proud of who you are and lead a Christ-like life. Then, when you look in the mirror you will always be proud of the person you see. Remember, Christ will always be looking back!
Next week we will begin the journey with Jesus to the cross with a Family Lenten Project COUNTDOWN TO EASTER. All the activities will be on the website http://www.stmary-unionville.org/. Copies of the activities will also be available in the Gathering Space.
LEAP! And DIVE! Youth Ministries
Link to a Christian Passover