The third healing mystery:
Jesus frees the imperiled child
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for . . . he suffers terribly.” (Matt. 17:15)
This poor child fell often into fire and into water. He reminds us of all our children now suffering the effects of conditions they did nothing to cause and are powerless to change.
For all the ways in which the world’s children suffer—hunger, domestic abuse, impaired learning conditions, depression, anxiety, shame— Lord, rescue our children and restore their hope.
This week we continue looking at the article from US Catholic, highlighting a new mystery to our beloved Rosary; the healing mystery. Pope John Paul II added this mystery back in 2002, but the author of the article brought it out of hiding during this time of pandemic.
This third week we meditate on Matthew Chapter 17 and specifically line 15. It is good to sit down with this line, and as stated above, be reminded of our children, and us, of the suffering we have gone through this last year.
Matthew’s Chapter 17 begins with the transfiguration of Jesus, and the appearance of Elijah and Moses. Staying with the theme of children, this is the second time that God has claimed Jesus in the Bible. The first was at Jesus’ baptism, and now here, on top of the mountain. As children of God and children of our parents, we all want their approval and to make them proud, and this is no different in Jesus’ case.
In this time of Lent and focusing on becoming closer to Jesus and walking a path with him, it is comforting knowing that he, too, was a child. A child who sought his parents’ approval, who was mischievous, who struggled with the same things that we may struggle with today, in our lifetime.
As children of God we all struggle and stumble in our everyday lives. As parents, godparents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, mentors and so on, we want to help those who are either on the same path as us or are trying to pave their own way without asking for help. I see this in Jesus. In his time of despair he sought out God’s advice and help, but at times he went at it alone.
In one of the St. Austin’s Lenten Studies on the book by Brene Brown Daring Greatly, one of her myths that she debunks on vulnerability is going at life alone. It’s hard to do life alone. It’s hard not having that friend, spouse, roommate or support system to lean on. Jesus leaned on his close family and friends to help others heal and end the suffering they were experiencing.
Currently, I do not know about you and your family and friends, but in our household “when is the virus going away?” is a daily, if not hourly, question. . We have all suffered from COVID by the isolation we feel. Mental health issues are being addressed more regularly and talked about because of COVID. As children of God, we are all suffering, and we see the struggles that everyone is going through, but what helps us all walk the path that Jesus walked is the ability to be vulnerable. Just as Jesus was vulnerable in each town he visited as he healed, spoke, taught, and fed, we too can do that for those in our inner circles, as well as those we pass along each day. You never know what suffering or hurt your smile can heal day to day.
Join us on Sunday afternoons from 4-5pm to discuss Parenting from the Inside Out. We meet every other week.
Our next session is Sunday, March 14 from 4-5pm and we will be discussing Chapters 2 and 3.
Mar
14
Sunday Parenting Book Discussion Group
Join us every other Sunday 4-5pm as we read different books to be better parents!
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Join us in Live Mass from St. Austin webpage!!!
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Prayer for a Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart … I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
On Sunday, December 27, 2020, Bishop Joe Vasquez is asking us to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the Inauguration of the Year of the Domestic Church in the Diocese of Austin.
Throughout the next year, we will focus on twelve monthly themes with accompanying resources. No matter whether your household is a home of one person or a family of many, we are all called to bear witness to and share the Gospel with our families and within our households. These monthly themed items will be ready to for parishes to utilize, implement or share on the first Monday of the previous month.
May we experience the merciful love of God throughout the next year as we grow in faith in our household, personal and parish family.
Throughout the next year, we will focus on twelve monthly themes with accompanying resources. No matter whether your household is a home of one person or a family of many, we are all called to bear witness to and share the Gospel with our families and within our households. These monthly themed items will be ready to for parishes to utilize, implement or share on the first Monday of the previous month.
May we experience the merciful love of God throughout the next year as we grow in faith in our household, personal and parish family.
Thank you to Elizabeth Korves this week sharing Lent in her home...here is a little bit more about her prayer space during this Lenten season...
1. Korves household. There’s just me, not even a pet.
2. Photo attached of my Lent liturgical space. I have a space on top of an armoire in my living room that I call my liturgical space. For years I have decorated it according to the liturgical seasons. It’s different from my prayer space which is in my bedroom but having it in my living room reminds me constantly of God and the spirit of the current liturgical season.
3. For the most part, while my regular prayer routine has remained the same during COVID, I have more freedom about what time I do my prayer since I no longer have so much time stuck in traffic. I do find myself very often holding in prayer those who are impacted by COVID, the sick and dying, those caring for them, those who’ve lost jobs. While I am single with no children, I find myself praying a lot for people with children. I am amazed by those who are trying to work from home while also home schooling their children. One evening during prayer, I felt myself drawn via imagination to seeing myself simply sitting at the bedside of someone dying alone from COVID. Afterwards, I just had a sense that I was being guided by the Holy Spirit to support someone who was in great need at that moment and hoped that my prayer gave some comfort to that unknown person.
2. Photo attached of my Lent liturgical space. I have a space on top of an armoire in my living room that I call my liturgical space. For years I have decorated it according to the liturgical seasons. It’s different from my prayer space which is in my bedroom but having it in my living room reminds me constantly of God and the spirit of the current liturgical season.
3. For the most part, while my regular prayer routine has remained the same during COVID, I have more freedom about what time I do my prayer since I no longer have so much time stuck in traffic. I do find myself very often holding in prayer those who are impacted by COVID, the sick and dying, those caring for them, those who’ve lost jobs. While I am single with no children, I find myself praying a lot for people with children. I am amazed by those who are trying to work from home while also home schooling their children. One evening during prayer, I felt myself drawn via imagination to seeing myself simply sitting at the bedside of someone dying alone from COVID. Afterwards, I just had a sense that I was being guided by the Holy Spirit to support someone who was in great need at that moment and hoped that my prayer gave some comfort to that unknown person.
This month for the year of the Domestic Church that Bishop Joe has initiated, the theme is Lent in the home. Please submit your pictures of Lent within your home to Rachel Vaughn at rvaughn@staustin.org
