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When I was a small child, I used an ink pen to write my name on the face of my sister’s doll. When my mother tells the story, she shares that I never denied the act. It was, after all, my name. A couple of hours passed, however, before I acknowledged my wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness. I remember crying during those hours, as I struggled with knowing I was wrong and not wanting to admit it.
I have often shared this story with children and families preparing for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. My mother’s love and patience mirrored that of God. God lovingly and patiently waits for us to confess our shortcomings and be reconciled. Like most children, I received my first experiences of God’s love through my family. Today, this lesson of love and forgiveness may result from a child sneaking to play a video game for a few more minutes or an adolescent spending hundreds of dollars in the app store.
In Scripture, Jesus often used stories of daily living to reveal attributes of God. The parable that describes how a woman lights a lamp and sweeps the house to find a lost coin illustrates Jesus’ concern for those who are lost (see Luke 15:8-10). In liturgy, the ordinary items of bread and wine extraordinarily become the Body and Blood of Christ. Catechetical ministry often involves pointing to the ways in which the tasks and objects of daily living continue to reveal the divine reality.
The routines and challenges of family living have changed and continue to change rapidly. The ways in which Catholic communities support families must also adapt to these changes. How do our catechetical efforts assist families in recognizing and acknowledging God in the big and small moments of their daily lives? How can our resources and programs aid parents and grandparents in connecting discipline with discipleship, bath time with Baptism, and routine with ritual? The questions are not new, but the responses can be as diverse as the families being served. In my short time at RCL Benziger, I have seen the great care and consideration that is given to these questions as products and resources are developed.
Our Family Faith is RCL Benziger’s ongoing commitment to providing innovative and effective resources that recognize the diverse needs of families and Catholic communities, and are adaptable to faith formation models based in homes, parishes, or schools. These resources support both Christian communities and families in forming disciples by promoting faith formation within family living, revealing the ever-present divine reality through ever-changing daily living. Whether navigating the perils of a ballpoint pen or a mobile device, may we continue to accompany one another in growing in faith where we live, learn, and pray.