EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
Appearance to the Disciples
JN 20:19-23 or JN 14:15-16, 23b-26
(First option shown here.)
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (Feast Day October 29)
October 29, 1971-October 7, 1990
Chiara Badano was born in Italy in 1971 after her parents had been praying for a child for eleven years. When she was nine years old, Chiara went to an event hosted by the Focolare Movement, which encouraged unity and peace by developing relationships. This is where her love of Jesus grew. She received the nickname Chiara "Luce" which means "clear light" from the founder of the movement.
Chiara was very popular. She played tennis and other sports. She loved to sing and dance. She said she did not try to bring Jesus to her friends with words, but with her example and how she lived her life. Chiara was known for giving away toys to children in need, visiting the elderly in retirement homes, and reaching out to those who were lonely or sick. When she was 17, Chiara was diagnosed with bone cancer. Treatments were painful and unsuccessful. She became paralyzed. She embraced her suffering and united it with Jesus' suffering on the Cross.
While confined to bed, Chiara wrote letters and sent messages to others, even giving all her savings to a friend who was becoming a missionary in Africa. She inspired everyone who she encountered with her love of others as well as her faith. Near the end of her life, she said, "I have nothing left, but I still have my heart, and with that I can always love." Chiara died in 1990. Within nine years, the bishop of her diocese began the work on her cause for canonization. Pope Benedict XVI declared her "Blessed" in 2010.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
Who is the Holy Spirit? Have you ever prayed to the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?
How does someone receive the Holy Spirit?
How powerful is the Holy Spirit?
Blessed Chiara Badano encouraged unity and peace by developing relationships. Why are relationships important to maintaining peace?
FAMILY FUN
Tennis
Inspired by Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, play some tennis today!
Visit the local tennis courts and play some tennis as a family. Want to play at home? Visit https://netgeneration.usta.com/us-en/tennis-at-home.html for ways to play at home and develop tennis skills away from the court. This website contains fun games to improve hand-eye coordination and reaction time.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Red Beans and Rice-Cajun Style
The liturgical color for Pentecost is red. In honor of Pentecost, enjoy this creamy and flavorful red bean dish!
1 cup basmati rice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 (12.8 oz.) package smoked andouille sausage or smoked kielbasa, thinly sliced
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
2 Tbsp tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ tsp Cajun seasoning
3 (15 oz.) cans red beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups chicken stock
1 tsp hot sauce
1 bay leaf
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
Cook rice according to package instructions; set aside. Heat oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sausage, and cook, stirring frequently, until sausage is lightly browned, about 3-4 minutes; set aside. Add onion, bell pepper and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, and Cajun seasoning until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in red beans, chicken stock, hot sauce, bay leaf and sausage; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover; continue to simmer until reduced, an additional 15 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, mash beans until slightly thickened, if desired. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately, topped with rice and garnish with parsley, if desired.
FAMILY PRAYER
Great Spirit Prayer
On this day that we celebrate the Holy Spirit, pray this American Indian prayer.
Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind,
Whose breath gives life to all the world.
Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Help me to remain calm and strong in
the face of all that comes towards me.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
Help me seek pure thoughts and act
with the intention of helping others.
Help me find compassion without
empathy overwhelming me.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy-myself. Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.
-Translated by Chief Yellow Lark, Lakota Sioux
https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/native-american
LITURGY LINK
Just as Jesus offered a greeting of peace to his disciples, the priest tells us, "The peace of the Lord be with you always."
What do we say in response?
FAMILY CHALLENGE
Charisms are gifts of the Holy Spirit given to each Christian to build the kingdom of God. Discovering these spiritual gifts helps individuals discover one's call from God. Look up common charisms and discuss as a family which charisms you see in each other.
FUN FACTS
The concept of the Novena - nine days of prayer - comes from Acts 1, where Mary and the Apostles prayed together "continuously" for nine days after the Ascension leading up to Pentecost. Traditionally, the Church prays the Novena to the Holy Spirit in the days before Pentecost.
