Question of the Week, August 9, 2020, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Several years ago, a coworker gave me a lovely South American pottery piece. It is a small boat carrying Jesus and the disciples. I treasure the gift to this day, and when I look at it, I think, “We’re in this boat together.”
We’re in this boat together—Jesus, you, me, family members, friends, coworkers, sinners, saints—we cry, we laugh, we sing, we pray, we question, we rise, we fall, we move forward, together.
Being in this boat together, facing storms and trials and challenges together, gives us courage and strength to keep going. It is the kind of strength I find in the Communion of Saints, the procession of holy ones—past, present, and future--who surround me on the road to the kingdom and just don’t let me fall. Their words and examples remind me to fix my gaze on Christ and to keep walking in faith. It is much easier to do so when I am walking with others.
Over the past several months, we’ve often heard and seen the slogan, “We’re all in this together.” Now, as we enter back into familiar activities and social gatherings, and as we respond to new challenges and opportunities to create a more just and inclusive society, will we take these words to heart? Will we bring the Good News of Jesus into the conversation and into the rebuilding of relationships and communities? Let us draw our strength to try from the words Jesus says to us today, “Take courage, . . . do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.Product Recommendation
Our Family Devotions
This book celebrates the many ways people of different cultures express the Catholic faith in their churches, neighborhoods, and homes. As the Good News of Jesus spread around the world, people in every culture found special ways to express their faith in God. Through the ritual words and gestures of popular devotions, Catholics show their love for God and devotion to Mary and the saints.
Some popular devotions begin with a message that is given to a person and then shared with others. Many traditions grow from the blending of the Catholic faith with a cultural celebration. Although the prayers and rituals may be adapted to meet the spiritual needs of a culture, all popular devotions are intended to help people recognize God’s love for them and grow in their love for God.
It is our prayer that through this book your family will experience God in new ways in your everyday lives. May the diverse and rich traditions of families and the Church from around the world lead you to find new ways of living out your faith. May the beauty of these devotions remind us that we are one family in Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love in our homes, churches, and communities.