Family helping each other
Our Gospel this morning shows a wonderful tradition that continues right up to this very day, and that is family helping one another to know and follow Jesus. In our Gospel, Jesus receives his first followers. One of His first disciples is Saint Andrew. Then Saint Andrew brings Saint Peter to Jesus, and the rest is history. From the very beginning, we see family helping one another to know and follow Jesus. Maybe someone in your family was instrumental in helping you know and follow Jesus? As a priest, I have heard countless stories of family members helping one another to know and follow Jesus. Helping one another learn prayers, reading stories from the bible, faith sharing, and leading grace before meals are some of the ways we help one another in our family to know and follow Jesus. I like hearing the stories where the siblings will play Mass in the home. We never did that, but I heard many Catholic families did.
Today’s Gospel made me think about how my parents and siblings have helped me. When I was little, many times my teenage brothers would take me to Sunday Mass. Most of the time, my older brothers would go to the Noon Mass at Saint Francis Xavier. One of the perks, besides sleeping in, was that their car had FM radio. Mom and Dad liked going to the 6:30am Mass, and Dad’s car only had AM radio. I wonder if any parishes out there still have a 6:30am Mass on a Sunday? I also think of those times at Christmas, observing the Nativity Scene under the tree with my siblings, or moments where they helped me learn my prayers. When I was seven, I remember waking up many times and being moved by seeing my oldest brother Bill, who was twenty at the time, kneeling at his bed earnestly praying. I learned a lot about prayer from him by watching him. To this day, my brother Bill is like the coolest guy I know. He taught me so much about sports, music, finance, and much about the faith. Plus, if I have any questions about clothes, he’s the guy to ask.
We see the beginnings of many things with the Gospel of the day: friendship with Jesus, the first disciples of the Lord, and family helping one another to know and follow of Jesus. God bless all our families. May they continue to grow in faith, honor, and love, and help one another to come to know and follow Jesus. God bless and stay safe!
In Christ,
Fr. Steve Breck
Pastor, St. Mary Magdalene
